One aspect of home security often overlooked is the actual quality of the locks installed in your home. Many of us take it for granted that as long as a door or window is locked then our insurance will cover any losses if we are a victim of burglary, however this may not be the case if your locks are not British Standard Insurance Approved.

In some instances where locks do not carry the BS Kitemark your insurers may not pay out on a claim at all, so it is worth checking the small print in your policy. The cost of getting your locks up to standard can work out a lot cheaper than having to replace the contents of your home.

If you would like to talk to someone about installing British Standard locks in your home, call your local Letchworth locksmith on 01462 820042.

Fortunately, burglary is less common than most people think. According to police statistics we will be burgled only once every 50 years, but nevertheless it can be a very traumatic experience if it happens to you. 

Despite the small chance of being a victim of burglary there are still around a million committed each year in the UK. The positive news is that this figure has fallen by 59% since 1995 and by 3% between 2006 and 2007. In fact, your chance of being burgled is the lowest for 20 years.

Around 20% of all burglaries are committed by opportunist thieves getting in through an open door or window, so fit strong locks to your doors and windows and make sure you always keep them fully locked.

However, if you are unfortunate to be a victim of burglary here is some useful advice.

• If you arrive home and suspect you have been burgled, do not enter the property. The burglar could still be in your house and a confrontation with a burglar could be potentially dangerous. It is best to dial 999 from a neighbour’s house and wait there until the police arrive.


• Once the police have investigated the crime, it is essential to repair any damage caused by the forced entry and make all doors and windows secure again. It is advisable to call a locksmith and get your locks changed at the earliest opportunity.


• Unfortunately if you have been burgled once you are more likely to be a victim again. Burglars often return a second time to help themselves to newly replaced items, so make sure you increase security within your home. Get your locks changed and consider installing a burglar alarm.


• Notify banks and other official institutions immediately if sensitive documents such as your your passport or birth certificate are missing, or if your bank cards, cheque books etc have been stolen. As well as the risk of having money withdrawn from your bank account, there is a real danger of thieves using these documents to steal your identity as well.


• Get a UV marker pen and mark all your property with your postcode so that if stolen goods are recovered by the police they can be identified and returned to you.


• If you have jewellery that you do not wish to mark with a pen, take photos of it beside a ruler to indicate its size and keep the images somewhere safe.