Interested in Home Security? Find out more...

Aside from installing a burglar alarm system, there is a range of ways to make your home safer. Consider each possible entry point to your home, such as doors and windows, to see how they could be improved.

As well as opportunistic burglaries, some burglars scope out a property beforehand, sometimes working with others. It's therefore important to think about measures to ensure your home looks occupied at all times, that there aren't any clear places where a potential burglar could hide to assess the house, and that their entrance to the house is visible and difficult.

When fitting a lock to a window or door, use the strongest screws you can, not necessarily the ones supplied, and make sure they are all to British Standard BS7950. Retrofitting UPVC and PVCU doors or windows with locks could weaken them or invalidate warranties. Sufficient locks fitted at the time of construction are safer.

Outdoor lights, either ones that you switch on manually or those that are set off by movement, are a good way to ensure a burglar is more visible, which will help to put them off. Generally, a single light can cost anything between £8 and £100. But take care to direct these downwards so as not to annoy neighbours, and make sure they will not shine into drivers' eyes if your home is near a road.

If you have a burglar alarm system, make sure ‘bell boxes’ are visible on your property to let potential burglars know you have an alarm. You can also get fake burglar alarm boxes, which cost around £15 to £20, if you cannot afford to get a full alarm system fitted.