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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