Keep yourself safe at home
Statistically, the chances of a home invasion are low. But there are steps everyone can take to minimise the risk further.
The police recommend everyone should think ahead to avoid such an encounter, especially older homeowners.
Never open your front door to strangers. Instead, install a peephole in your door and if you don’t recognise the visitor, keep the door closed.
Have a phone by your bed and arrange with a neighbour to phone or visit you if your curtains are still drawn after a certain time in the morning.
Have a personal or medical
alarm that you can press in an emergency and never tell someone that you are alone in the house.
If someone you don’t know asks to make a phone call from your home, get the phone number and offer to make the call yourself. Then they don’t need to enter your home and you don’t need to open the door.
Never do business with strangers who come to the door, phone you or contact you via email, never talk to strangers about your financial affairs, and never provide your name and address or chat if you receive a wrong number phone call.
If you find an intruder, prowler or burglar in your home, get out if you can, dial 111 and ask for police.
Don’t try to catch the intruder or block their escape. If you do need to act, yell or scream or blow a whistle.
If you suspect there is a prowler outside, ring the police, turn on all outside lights and turn off all inside lights.
Make a loud noise to frighten the prowler away and alert your neighbours.
If you arrive home and think there’s a burglar inside your house, don’t go inside.
Ring the police, go to a safe place and wait for them.
You can keep yourself safe indoors by installing a wide-angle door viewer so you can see who is at your door, keeping your doors and windows secure, and your curtains closed at night.
Invest in quality, secure locks and if you live alone, don’t advertise the fact. Keep your answerphone message generic – say, ‘‘No-one is available to take your call,’’ rather than, ‘‘I can’t take your call.’’
But the most important action you can take to make your place safer is to know your neighbours.
Exchange contact details, discuss your crime and safety concerns, and decide what you would do in an emergency. numbers. And let each other know if visitors or tradespeople will be in your house while you are away.
If your neighbours are away, help them by making their house look lived-in.
Turn on lights at night, close curtains at night and open during the day, mow their lawns, clear their mail and use their clothesline or driveway.
Keep an eye on their house and walk around it once a day to check it is secure.
Question strangers, but don’t say the neighbours are away. Write down their description and note the time and date.
Write down the registration numbers of unfamiliar vehicles moving slowly or stopping in the street.
Report anything suspicious to your local police station.