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PRO NEWS
JANUARY 2017 PRO INSTALLER
www. proinstaller. co. uk
HOW SAFE IS YOUR HOME?
The history and future of home security
For most Britons, their home is their safe place. It’ s a place to come back to after a day at work, to raise a family in and to relax.
BUT HOW SAFE IS IT, REALLY? The number of burglaries in the UK is falling. The incidents in 2015 were down 33 % from the same period ten years earlier( Jan- Dec 2005) and 70 % just 20 years ago( Jan-Dec 1995). However, according to the Office for National Statistics, there were 401,718 police-reported burglaries between January 2015 and December 2015 – giving a burglary rate at 7 offences per 1,000 people. That also means that, on average, there were 1,100 burglaries per day reported to police. That’ s 45 per hour. The figure gets even scarier when you take in to account an estimate of all burglaries( aside from police-reported)- where an estimated 713,000 burglaries took place. This means there were an estimated:
• 1,953 burglaries per day
• 81 per hour
• 1.35 each minute Even with decreased numbers, there’ s still more than one burglary every minute. How much will that cost? In 2000, a Home Office study concluded that the average burglary costs £ 2,300 per incident.
Adjusted for inflation, that figure is now £ 3,600. That’ s not even counting the rise in commonly stolen electronic devices such as smartphones, which cost an average of £ 180 each, and laptops( average cost of £ 692 each). With burglaries an ever-present threat, it’ s hard not to ask yourself- how do you defend your home?
DO YOU LIVE IN SAFETY? According to insurers Money- SuperMarket, London is a fairly dangerous place to reside. In fact, the ten areas with the highest rate of burglary in the UK are in our capital:
MOST BURGLED POSTCODES
• SE21 South Tulse Hill & Dulwich, South London 61.2
• IG5 Clayhall, Ilford, East London 57.5
• IG4 Redbridge, East London 56.7
• IG2 Gants Hill, Newbury Park, Aldborough Hatch, East London 53.5
• N20 Whetstone district, North relax in. London 49.5
• TW5 Heston, Cranford( north), Osterley( west), West London 49.2
• EN4 Hadley Wood, Cockfosters, East Barnet, New Barnet, North London 48.6
• N11 New Southgate district, North London 48.1
• IG6 Barkingside, Hainault( south), East London 46.7
• TW11 Teddington, West London 46.6 The data also documents the UK postcodes with the lowest number of offences. If you live in Harbury, Derry or Bishopston, it’ s good news— you’ re living in some of the UK’ s safest areas.
SAFEST POSTCODES
• CV33 Harbury 0.7
• BT48 Derry, Cityside, Ballynagard, Coshquin, Rosemount, The Collon, Culmore, 0.9
• SA3 Bishopston, Blackpill, Caswell, Clyne, Langland, Mumbles, Oystermouth, Southgate, South Gower, West Cross, 1.1
• SO22 Badger Farm, Fulflood, Hursley, Littleton and Harestock, Olivers Battery, Pitt, St Cross( W), Stanmore, Weeke 1.1
• SP4 Amesbury & Durrington 1.2
• BL6 Bolton, Blackrod, Horwich, Lostock, Rivington 1.3
• OX10 Wallingford, Berinsfield, Cholsey, Dorchester 1.3
• DD10 Montrose 1.4
• NG20 Shirebrook, Market Warsop 1.4
• CA13 Cockermouth, Lorton & Buttermere 1.5
Are you safe in your home?
For most Britons, their home is their safe place. It’ s a place to come back to after a day at work, to raise a family in and to
BUT HOW SAFE IS IT, REALLY?
The number of burglaries in the UK are falling.
The incidents in 2016 were... and...
Down
32 %
from the same period 10 years earlier( Jan-Dec 2005)
Down
71 %
from just 20 years ago( Jan-Dec 1995).
SECURING YOUR HOME – A BRIEF HISTORY Throughout history, people have made efforts to secure their homes to prevent the theft of their belongings. This began with a number of weapons and tools before morphing into the systems we use today.
‘ 30 % of all burglaries are through an open or unlocked window or door’
MESOPOTAMIA AND ANCIENT EGYPT Beginning with a simple wooden bolt across two brackets, locks in ancient history progressed rapidly. In periods dating as far back as 2,000BC, Egyptians began using pin tumbler locks made of wood that used a lock and key to provide access externally. This would then be improved with metallic tumbler locks in Rome. Effective now? Deadbolts and secure locks are still one of the most important factors in protecting yourself against burglary. Around 30 % of all burglaries are through an open or unlocked window or door. A home without a security system is 300 % more likely to be burgled.
ANCIENT ROME – GUARD DOGS Domesticated since ancient times, guard dogs were used in ancient Rome to protect property. In his writings about breeds such as Laconians and Molossians, Virgil the poet said:“ Never, with them on guard, need you fear for your stalls a midnight thief.” Effective now? A study by the University of North Carolina surveyed 422 burglars to establish what put them off burgling a property. Only a small percentage of the offenders said they’ d continue a burglary if there was a dog in the home. Confusingly, the current UK legislation through the Dangerous Dogs Act means that you can be prosecuted if your dog bites a trespasser in your garden – but there is a defence if your dog bites a trespasser inside your home.
FEUDAL JAPAN –‘ CRICKET FLOORS’ In Japan, the Royal Pavilion at Katsura was built with a burglar-alarm system known as‘ cricket floors’ – creaky floorboards that emitted a musical sound and alerted the palace guards. Effective now? This early burglar