The Complete Home Burglary Prevention Checklist

1. Five-minute essentials

Free habits that close common opportunities.

Lock every external door and accessible window—even when you are home or only stepping out briefly. Double-lock compatible doors rather than only lifting the handle. Keep house and vehicle keys away from doors, windows, letterboxes and cat flaps. Remove wallets, bags, electronics and car documents from view. Lock the side gate, garage, shed and bicycles.

2. Front and back doors

Your door is a system: leaf, frame, lock, hinges and glazing.

Confirm doors and frames are solid, undamaged and properly aligned. Check locks meet an appropriate recognised British security standard; ask a qualified locksmith if unsure. Protect exposed hinges and glazed panels; fit letterbox protection where key fishing is possible. Use a door viewer, chain or smart doorbell to verify callers without opening fully. Check patio or sliding doors cannot be lifted from their tracks.

3. Windows and accessible openings

Include upper windows reachable from extensions, roofs, bins or walls.

Test every window lock and replace loose, damaged or missing hardware. Remove keys from locked windows while keeping emergency escape needs in mind. Move bins, ladders and furniture that could provide climbing access. Review basement, roof, garage and utility-room openings—not only living spaces.

4. Garden and boundaries

Discourage hidden access without creating a fortress.

Keep front hedges and boundaries low enough to preserve natural surveillance. Keep rear and side boundaries secure; consider trellis or defensive planting where suitable. Lock gates and ensure they cannot be opened by reaching over. Store tools securely so they cannot be used to force entry.

5. Lighting and occupancy

Good lighting improves visibility; realistic routines make absence less obvious.

Use well-positioned dusk-to-dawn or sensor lighting at approaches and doors. Trim plants that block lights or camera views. Use safe timers for internal lights when the home will be empty after dark. Arrange post, bins and deliveries during longer trips; avoid advertising absence publicly.

6. Alarm, cameras and doorbells

Technology should support—not replace—physical security.

Set the alarm every time the property is left and test sensors and sirens regularly. Position cameras to capture faces at entrances without avoidable intrusion into neighbours’ privacy. Confirm recordings, timestamps, notifications, batteries and cloud retention all work. Display alarm or CCTV deterrent signage only where accurate and appropriate.

7. Digital security

A stolen or compromised device should not unlock the rest of your home.

Use unique passwords and multi-factor authentication for security and smart-home accounts. Update camera, doorbell, router, hub and alarm firmware. Remove old users, installers, shared accounts and devices that no longer need access. Secure the router and review exactly who receives alerts and recordings.

8. Valuables and recovery

Reduce loss and make stolen property easier to identify.

Photograph valuable items and record serial numbers, receipts and identifying marks. Use a properly anchored safe for especially important items and documents. Back up essential records somewhere not dependent on a single device in the home. Check insurance limits, exclusions, lock requirements and evidence needed for a claim.

The Complete Home Burglary Prevention Checklist

1. Five-minute essentials

2. Front and back doors

3. Windows and accessible openings

4. Garden and boundaries

5. Lighting and occupancy

6. Alarm, cameras and doorbells

7. Digital security

8. Valuables and recovery

Turn this audit into a tailored plan

Official guidance and further reading

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