HOW TO MAKE A BURGLARS LIFE DIFFICULT - SOME SIMPLE STEPS THAT MAKE THEM LOOK ELSEWHERE!

Burglary is a serious issue but fortunately in Cyprus it is not that common and by taking a few basic steps the chances of it happening to your property can be reduced significantly!

 There are two main types of burglary -  the first is opportunist and the second is targeted.

With the opportunity burglary, this is usually committed by offenders driving around until they see a property that looks easy to enter by, for example an open window or vulnerable side entrance - very often when the property has only been left for a short time! The second, and probably more serious, is the targeted burglary, and in most cases this type of offence is committed by somebody who knows the occupant, or somebody who works for them. 

One other point to raise is that it is a fact that a lot of properties in this area are left unoccupied for long periods.  Please refer to the separate sheet with some simple tips to avoid it being immediately apparent that the house is empty.

So how can the chance of burglary be reduced?

There are three areas of a property to look at, the first is boundary, fences gates and the like. The second, and most important, is the shell of the property such as doors, windows and lighting. And the third is security inside the property, such as lockable cupboards or safes.

So to take some basic steps following are a few tips that owners should follow to make a burglars job more difficult and look elsewhere!

         1]  Do not leave keys and/or ID documents on show that can be easily taken.  Never leave a spare key under a plant pot, door mat, in the electrical meter cupboard, or anywhere else on your property - if you wish to leave a spare key anywhere, please leave one with a neighbour so at least if you lock yourself out of the house, they will have a spare key to let you in.

        2] Close and lock all doors and windows when leaving, even for a short time.

        3] Lock outside sheds and storerooms and remove all ladders and items that could be used to climb on.  Invest in padlocks and chains to secure your BBQ, outside heaters and gas bottles.   Do not leave any gardening implements lying around as these can be used by burglars to damage shutters, windows or doors. 

         4]   Keep side gates and any other entrance to property locked and secure. 

          5] Use time switches on lights and radio, at appropriate times so that it appears someone is at home.

          6]  Invest in a safe [suitably fixed to the structure of the property] or fireproof cabinet for papers, jewellery, passports and money.

          7]   Install a burglar alarm, or consider CCTV. However these are specialist subjects and advice from an expert is suggested.

          8]  Install low level dusk to dawn lighting outside to increase visibility. This may well deter the criminal, but make it feel safer for you on returning home!

         9]  If possible keep boundaries high to restrict unauthorised entry.

        10]  Photograph and mark property with appropriate markers showing  house number or postcode [Tala is 8577 - so if your house no is, eg, 25 Kamares Avenue, the no could be 8577 - 25 KA, or if you have a postbox the post box no and the postal area ], and keep copies in a safe place.   If property is then found, there is a chance that you will be reunited with your property.

        11] Do not advertise that you are going away, for example on Facebook or Twitter, or on your ansaphone message.   Be vague as to your plans with everyone - the less people that know the better.   However, do let a trusted neighbour or friend know so that they can keep an eye on the property.  

Thank you to Dave Rollings for this information.