30 | APRIL 2019
Security
Read online at www.proinstaller.co.uk
TAKING A SECOND
LOOK AT SECURITY
The latest Crime Survey for England and Wales indicates that levels of both domestic and non-domestic
burglary have remained fairly consistent over the past few years, having steadily decreased throughout
the noughties. The statistics also estimate that homeowners are now four times less likely to be burgled
than they were in 1995, and that around a third of reported break in attempts were unsuccessful.
Whilst the increase in secu-
rity awareness and adoption of
security systems is widely accept-
ed to be behind this improvement,
Police report that most break-ins
still occur through a door, either
by kicking it in or forcing the
lock. With most customers still
relying on one or two primary
locks to secure their door, it’s time
to give security products a second
look. Not only will this help
maintain the currently low levels
of burglary, it also offers installers
the opportunity to gain additional
sales.
A doorway to
securing sales
Rack bolts are a good first step
for securing wooden doors top
and bottom. Internal doors can
also benefit from using door bolts
or locks as it slows and incon-
veniences any would-be intruders.
Multi-purpose door bolts perform
a similar job to rack bolts and are
ideally suited for securing patio
doors, which burglars often use
to remove bulky items. As the
name implies, they also have a
wider range of applications, and
can be fitted to wooden, compos-
ite or metal doors that are either
hinged or slide. Sterling’s surface
mounted multi-purpose door bolt
features a reversible bolt which
slides into a concealed fixing, with
the added flexibility of enabling
an optional ventilation position.
Any installer will appreciate that
it’s no use fitting strong securi-
ty products to a weak door or
frame, so advise your customers
on additional steps they can take
to strengthen their doors. Glass
panels in doors are particularly
vulnerable, so Police advise fitting
laminated glass which is much
stronger. Installers without a rela-
tionship with a local glazier could
consider carrying a roll of security
film to stick over existing glass,
which makes it harder to break.
A door with a view
Security chains are a simple
yet effective security solution for
preventing unwanted visitors from
forcing their way in through an
open door. Sterling’s range of
door chains are suitable for fixing
to either timber, composite or
uPVC doors. Standard or heavy
duty options are available. A
choice of either a chrome or brass
finish means the Sterling door
chains complement a wide range
of existing door furniture.
Teamed with a security chain,
a door viewer is essential for
helping customers decide whether
to open the door in the first place.
Smart technology is playing an
increasingly central role in both
business and private lives and
the digital revolution is making
its way into secondary security
systems. Combining a door bell
and electronic door spyhole, the
new door eGuard 8200 system
from Burg-Wächter allows home
owners to easily see who’s on the
other side of the door, without the
need for an expensive entryphone
system.
A high quality 4” TFT screen
provides a large clear image,
whilst the infra-red capable cam-
era boasts a 105 degree angle lens,
to give a wide view even in low
light conditions. In addition to
activating a live feed, a still image
is recorded whenever the door
bell is pressed. The last 25 images
can be stored on the device (plus
up to 2,000 on an 8GB micro-SD
card), allowing owners to keep a
record of who called, even while
they were out.
The door eGuard 8200 is
compatible with most doors
(38mm-110mm) and is a direct
replacement for existing spyholes
(14mm-26mm). There’s no fiddly
cables to route around the frame
or inside the door, as power is
supplied courtesy of 4x AAA
batteries, which are easy for the
home owner to replace.
A window of opportunity
After doors, the second most
common entry point for burglars
is the ground floor windows.
These should be secured with
key-operated window locks to pre-
vent them being opened, even if
the glass is smashed. Sterling of-
fers a range of additional window
locks and sash jammers, many of
which are also suitable for doors.
For customers looking for an
integrated solution, Sterling also
produces direct replacement uPVC
locking window handles. Featur-
ing a gradated spindle for easy fit-
ting, Sterling’s locking handles are
available with inline and offset op-
tions to suit all applications. The
strong die cast handles have been
subjected to extensive endurance
and corrosion resistance testing
to ensure they operate regardless
of the weather and frequency of
use. These window handles also
provide a perfect opportunity for
consumers to upgrade to new
more contemporary designs.
Police recommend that any lad-
ders should be secured to prevent
them being used on upper win-
dows that may not be locked. A
ground anchor and locked cable/
chain is ideal for securing ladders
either inside or outside, are easy
to fit and can make a useful addi-
tional sale for installers.
www.burg.biz/uk