Use this guide as the clocks go back and evenings get darker, or after a break-in nearby. Have a notepad, your keys for every door and window, and your home insurance policy to hand.
Step by step
Walk round the outside
Stand at the front and back of your home and note anything that makes entry easy: hidden doorways, climbable bins, ladders, open side gates or tools left out. Look at it in daylight and again after dark. Write down each weak point so you can deal with them one by one.
Check doors and locks
Make sure every external door locks properly and that uPVC doors are locked with the key, not just by lifting the handle. Check that door frames are solid and hinges are secure. If a lock is worn or you have lost track of spare keys, ask a locksmith about replacing the cylinder.
Secure windows and outbuildings
Check that ground-floor and easy-to-reach windows have working locks and keep the keys somewhere out of sight from the window. Lock sheds and garages, and chain bikes and ladders so they cannot be used or taken. Mark valuable tools and bikes with your postcode.
Improve lighting and visibility
Fit dusk-to-dawn or motion-sensor lights at the front and back, keeping them angled so they do not shine into neighbours' windows. Trim hedges at the front so doors and windows can be seen from the street. Plug-in timer switches can make an empty house look occupied.
Hide keys and valuables
Keep keys, including car keys, away from the letterbox and out of sight from windows. Do not leave laptops, phones or bags visible from outside. Photograph valuables and note serial numbers so you can prove ownership if anything is taken.
Build safe habits
Lock doors even when you are at home or in the garden, and close windows when you go out. Avoid posting travel plans on public social media until you are back. Ask a trusted neighbour to collect post and parcels when you are away.
Ready-to-use checklist
- Every external door locks with a key
- Spare keys accounted for
- Window locks working on easy-to-reach windows
- Shed, garage and side gate locked
- Outside lights working after dark
- Keys kept away from door and windows
- Valuables photographed and serial numbers noted
- Insurance lock requirements checked
Practical tips
- Read your home insurance policy: some policies require specific locks to be used, and a claim can be affected if they were not.
- Ask your local police team or Neighbourhood Watch about free crime-prevention advice for your area.
- A video doorbell or camera can help, but position it so it does not record neighbours' homes or public spaces more than necessary.
Common problems
You think someone is breaking in right now.
Get to a safe place, lock yourself in if you can and call 999. Do not confront the intruder. Stay on the line and follow the call handler's instructions.
You have lost a door key or a former tenant or partner still has one.
Change the lock cylinder rather than the whole lock, which is usually quicker and cheaper. If you rent, tell your landlord in writing first and check your tenancy agreement about changing locks.
You come home to find signs of a break-in.
Do not go in if the intruder might still be inside; call 999. If they have gone, call 101 or report online to your local police, avoid touching anything, get a crime reference number and then contact your insurer.
This guide gives general information, not personal legal, financial or medical advice. Rules and prices change, so check the current position with the official service before acting.
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