The leaves are falling from the trees, the days are getting shorter and temperatures are dropping: sure signs that autumn and winter are on their way. But as the nights get darker, this time of year is peak season for burglaries. Discover effective ways to protect yourself and prevent break-ins here.
Autumn and winter see an increase in home and apartment break-ins taking place during the day. Burglars take advantage of the shorter days, as most people still haven’t got back from work by the time it’s dark. Yet you’re not totally defenceless in the face of a break-in – if you take the right measures, you can ward off thieves before they’ve got anywhere near your windows and doors.
There are three aspects to effective protection against break-ins: a combination of your own behaviour, security mechanisms and electronic systems.
Are you one of those people who sleeps with the window open and forgets to close it in the morning rush? Even if you live on the upper floors of your building, you should always keep your windows and doors closed when you’re out. If you’re away for several days, you should empty your mailbox and turn on your lights at different times using a timer. None of these measures will be any use, however, if you let people know you’re going to be away by sharing photos or your location on social media. Professional burglars keep tabs on potential target properties in advance and do research online to find out more about the occupants and when they’ll be away.
For new builds, we always recommend incorporating burglary deterrents as early as the planning phase. But existing buildings can also be equipped with effective security mechanisms at the most vulnerable points of the house.
Burglars always look for the easiest way into an unfamiliar property: balcony doors, windows, basement access and insufficiently secured entrances to individual units in apartment buildings – these are some of the most common weak spots that need securing. Special security features, additional locks on doors and windows, and tamper-proof blinds and shutters make life difficult for burglars – many will give up if they can’t get into a house or apartment in just a few minutes.
If changing your own behaviour doesn’t work and you’ve installed security mechanisms to no avail, electronic alarm systems can also help prevent break-ins. Alarm systems or video cameras can alert you to an attempted break-in – and they’re a great deterrent, too.
In the Engel & Völkers guide to protecting your home, you’ll find more tips on effective protection against break-ins, as well as handy checklists to help work out which other security measures could protect your home.
Take precautions and protect your home in time for the dark autumn and winter nights.
You can find details of the measures relating to "Security for your home" in our guide. You can either read it directly online or order a printed version from your store.
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