Having your home burglarised is a wrenching experience and with break-ins on the increase in Bermuda, most people will do whatever it takes to ensure their possessions remain safe. The Royal Gazette <$>spoke the Bermuda Police Service’s Crime and Drug Prevention Unit to get some tips on protecting your investments.

“Thieves are generally opportunists looking for an easy target,” says crime prevention officer, Melinda Benevides. “If you can make your home look occupied and difficult to enter, you can often deter them, even from attempting to gain entry.”

Ms Benevides says there are some basic aspects of security including planting “protective shrubbery” such as Natal Plum beneath sash, awning, casement and louvered glass windows.

“Thieves will think twice before approaching those windows,” she chuckles and points out the importance of installing casement window locks on the inside of all accessible casement windows. This is the type of window that opens on hinges located at one side, as distinct from one that slides up and down.

However, she is quick to add that overgrown bushes and trees close to your home should be cut back as they can provide good hiding places for thieves.

“Planting vegetation on your property can be advantageous, provided careful consideration is given to the landscape design,” she concedes. “For example, boundary hedges can provide a physical barrier preventing access onto the property.”

All sliding glass doors, she adds, should be fitted with a secondary lock: “Where there is a large gap between the top of the door and the top of the runner, screw a strip of wood into the upper runner or track. This will ensure a more secure fit.”

As for outside pipes on two or more storey houses, Ms. Benevides says cementing-in the sides of outside piping, especially around support brackets will rob thieves of their means to reach the upper storey of your home.

“Garage doors should be looked and kept locked whenever possible,” she insists. “Do not allow thieves access to your tools and equipment. They may use them to break into your home.”

Householders are also strongly advised to “U-mark” pedal cycles and outdoor furniture. “Engravers may be borrowed free of charge from Somerset, Hamilton and the St. George’s Police Stations,” she adds.

The idea is to engrave your initials and possibly even a telephone number onto these items and she suggests doing the same with other items of value including DVD and CD players, television sets, computers, digital cameras and anything of value.

“Fit sash window locks onto the inside of all accessible wooden sash windows and in the case of a ‘window key lock’, it should be fitted no more than five inches up on the inside of the upper frame from where the two frames meet,” Ms Benevides says. “Locks are also available for metal sash windows.”

All external doors should be of solid core design and be at least one and three-quarter inches thick. Ms Benevides recommends where there is no glass within arms reach of the catch, it could be useful to fit a cylinder deadbolt lock: “External doors that do contain glass panes, or have glass panels beside them should be fitted with a double cylinder lock.”

Installing good outdoor lighting on the corners of your home at least nine feet off the ground is recommended, but as an alternative to regular outdoor lighting, Ms Benevides suggests installing a passive infra-red security lighting system: “With such a system, your outdoor lighting is switched-on automatically for a limited period of time whenever the system’s sensor detects movement or body heat in the immediate area.”

French doors should be secured with a double cylinder deadbolt lock.

Ms Benevides points out the importance of securing your outside ladders with a length of chain and a good quality padlock - once again to prevent thieves from using them to gain access to second storey windows.

“Doors that open outwards and that have hinge pins on the outside, should be fitted with a pair of hinge bolts in the door frame, while double doors should be fitted with four hinge bolts - two on either side of the frame,” she concedes.

“People often overlook small picture windows when securing their homes. Fit an expanding metal grille, or a metal grille made to measure in the window frame on the inside,” she says. “Alternatively consider installing security glass in addition to, or in place of the existing glass.”

With warmer weather, Ms Benevides says people have a tendency to leave windows open for ventilation, or rely on window mounted air conditioners for temperature control: “Unfortunately, if not properly secured, this can be seen as an open invitation to thieves,” she adds. “Please remember to ensure that all conditioners are properly secured and to install auxiliary locks on windows, leaving no more than five inches open.”

She says over the past few months there have been a number of incidents where air conditioners have been removed and access has been gained into residences.

As for alarm systems, Ms Benevides says once your home is physically secure, you might consider buying or renting an alarm system.

“Both local and silent systems are available in Bermuda and some incorporate fire alarms,” she adds.

To give your home a “lived-in appearance” she suggests drawing curtains and switching on lights if you go out and leaving the radio playing: “A light with a self-timer is also a good idea.”