Installing a home security system is becoming increasingly
popular and easy for most do it yourselfers while saving money.
Some home security companies require a three year contract
trapping home owners in.
More than half of Britons (58 per cent) give away spare keys to
their home, typically to friends and family, according to a
survey by NOP for insurer NIG.
But four per cent of movers do not bother to reclaim their spare
keys when they move house.
In properties that are rented out, or have been rented out at
some point the problem is worse.
Seven per cent of tenants do not return their spare keys when
moving out, increasing the possibility that a stranger has
access to your house.
NIG director Adrian Harris said: “This is really quite a
worrying result for both home owners and insurers. The fact that
so many unclaimed keys are in circulation raises major questions
about home security.”
Nearly three-quarters of recipients of spare keys are family
members, while 14 per cent are neighbours and eight per cent are
friends.
Despite the security risk that it poses, 59 per cent of those
surveyed said they did not change the locks when they last moved
into a new home.
Mr Harris added: “These results show it makes sense for any new
home owners to consider changing their property’s locks to
ensure that anyone still holding spare keys can’t get back into
the property or can pass them onto someone who may want to break
in.”
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Hardly a day goes by without a new story about spam, viruses,
spyware, and other hazards of using the Internet. Spammers and
malicious hackers work relentlessly to defy computer defenses,
expecting that some people haven’t applied the latest security
fixes. With new technology, it is making it more affordable and
easier for people to install their own home security system. One
company in particular started selling DIY home security systems
after the owners were frustrated at the extremely high costs of
the larger national home security companies. Code Tech security
started offering systems where the do it yourselfer can have a
system up and running for a few hundred dollars without signing
a contract for monitoring. Many people believe that if a burglar
breaks into the house a simple alarm sound will deter most
people from sticking around.
That is exactly what Code Tech security offers, a wireless
system that the home owner sets up and then allows the system to
call up to nine different telephone numbers versus a monitoring
system. The homeowner can allow the system to call a cell phone,
neighbor, a family member, friends, etc. with their own personal
message.
The best selling product for Code Tech security is the “Complete
Wireless alarm system” that comes with a Control Panel, a
dialer, motion detector, 2 door or window sensors, and a
keychain transmitter. Then customers add on additional
accessories as needed. For instance, most people add on more
window or door sensors.
Three quarters of British homeowners either do not have an alarm
system, or do not bother to turn it on, with six people in ten
forgetting to ask tradesmen for proper identification, Privilege
Home Insurance reveals.
More basic errors are less widespread but worryingly more than
one person in three is not changing their locks after losing
their keys, 27 per cent are leaving a spare key outside their
house and around one homeowner in five does not lock doors and
windows when they leave the home, a report for the insurer adds.
And these lapses in security can prove costly at any time.
Churchill Home Insurance today shows that burglars are most
likely to strike on Wednesday, costing up to £127 million a
week.
“Our findings show that burglars will target homes on week
nights as well as weekends and that homes need to be secure at
all times, whether people are at home or not,” said Martin
Scott, head of home insurance at Churchill.
Friday and Saturday nights are the next most likely time for
thieves to strike, while Thursday tops the list for London and
the south-east.
“Burglaries can obviously occur at any time but a few simple
precautions can make a real difference. Home owners should
always be mindful of the risk of burglary and secure windows and
doors when going out, even if it is only to visit a neighbour
for a few minutes,” Mr Scott added.
Three quarters of people who own or rent a home say its safety
is very important to them, with four in ten convinced their
property is as safe as it can be, Privilege research finds.
But with one person in six having no idea how many people have
keys to their home, there is a gap between perception and
reality.
Ian Parker, managing director of Privilege Home Insurance
commented: “The gap between people’s perceptions about safety
consciousness and the reality is considerable. It seems that
many of us are convinced that our homes are safe and yet we are
not taking the necessary precautions to keep our homes secure.”
Privilege has created a simple checklist to aid this. The
insurer urges homeowners to never leave home without: * Checking
all doors and windows are closed and locked * Switching on the
security alarm, if you have one * Checking all gas and
electrical appliances are switched off and not left on standby *
Placing valuables in a safe place * Ensuring fires and candles
are extinguished
British homeowners’ top ten safety and security lapses are:
1. Not having, or not using, a burglar alarm – 76 per cent; 2.
Not asking tradesmen for identification – 59 per cent; 3. Not
bothering to leave a light on when away from home – 48 per cent;
4. Not checking appliances are switched off when they leave the
house – 46 per cent; 5. Not bothering to have the locks changed
after losing keys – 37 per cent; 6. Leaving spare keys outside
the house – 27 per cent; 7. Not having a smoke alarm or not
checking it regularly – 27 per cent; 8. Smoking in the home, or
allowing others to- 23 per cent; 9. Not locking all doors and
windows when leaving – 18 per cent; 10. Having no clue how many
people have keys to their home – 14 per cent.
For more information on Home Security please visit the Home
Security resource center at Home
SecurityResource Center