Expert offers advice on keeping our property safe, By Sam Wylie-Harris

We may be spending more time than usual at home, but that doesn’t mean our properties are entirely free from the threat of thefts.

Home security is still important, especially coming into the summer months, when doors and windows may be left open and high-value items left out in the garden.

So what do you need to know? Here, Izzy Schulman, a locksmith and director of Keys4U, offers seven tips… someone tries to force their way in. Both of these are simple to fit with a drill.

“For added peace of mind, consider fitting a London bar to your door. The steel bar fits onto your door frame and around the rim lock, providing a sturdier resistance if someone tries to kick in your door. As there are so many brands and sizes of rim locks available, London bars aren’t customised to your door – so you just need to measure the size of your rim lock to make sure the model you buy will fit over it. They can then be secured to your door frame using a drill and screws.”

“Lining vulnerable windows with a shatter-proof film adds an extra protective layer. They fit effortlessly on glass panels with an adhesive layer and hold the glass in place if it smashes, keeping burglars out.” to capture weak spots around the home. A larger lens has a longer zoom but is not as wide, so consider the shape of your garden or driveway.

“Burglars aim to get in and out of each home as quickly as possible, without getting caught. They’ll often scout out homes for a few days to find the easiest entry points and track the behaviour patterns of homeowners – so an overgrown garden gives them the perfect place to hide out undetected while they watch your property,” says Schulman.

“Cut down overgrown trees and trim back bushes, removing any shaded or covered areas that aren’t visible from your windows, where criminals can move around your property unseen. Many of us leave valuable items lying around the garden, which can also be a target for thieves.” he adds.

– fitted to your garden gate or shed will offer greater peace of mind. However, it may require you to replace your garden gate or shed door to make sure it’s compatible.

“It’s also recommended to add motion-sensor lighting in the garden to scare off burglars who act under the cover of darkness. Installing a motion sensor light requires some wiring but it’s a simple job if you have existing floodlights,” he adds. “Then, choose the distance you want the sensor to cover depending on the size of the blind spots around your home.

“Wooden garden fences and sheds are prone to rotting if the wood isn’t treated regularly, and this can make it easier for potential intruders to access your property,” says Schulman.

“Now the weather’s nicer, it’s time to get outside and treat any wooden panels or fences to prevent rotting. Coating fences and sheds in weatherproof stain or paint should do the trick, protecting the wood from the elements and preventing them from cracking or breaking.”