How do I make my home more secure?

The physical and behavioural changes that actually deter burglary, ordered by effect per pound spent.

Difficulty: beginner
Time: 2 hr
Read: 2 min

Short answer

Most burglaries are opportunistic. Good locks properly used, lighting, removing hiding places near doors and windows, and making the house look occupied deter far more than any alarm or camera does on its own.

Burglars overwhelmingly choose easy, unobserved targets. That means visibility, delay and the appearance of occupancy matter more than sophisticated equipment — and the cheapest measures are often the most effective.

What you'll need

Timer switches (optional)
Better locks (optional)
Outdoor lighting (optional)

Step by step

Check every external door lock and actually use it.Multi-point locks only engage when the handle is lifted and the key turned. A door pulled shut but not locked is not locked at all.
Upgrade vulnerable euro cylinders.Older cylinders can be snapped in seconds. Anti-snap, anti-bump cylinders to a recognised standard are inexpensive and a genuine upgrade.
Secure windows, especially ground floor and flat-roof accessible ones.Locking handles used, keys removed but accessible in an emergency. Small windows are used more often than people expect.
Improve visibility around doors and windows.Cut back hedges and shrubs that provide cover. A burglar working unobserved is the main enabling condition.
Add lighting.Motion-activated lights at entrances and dark sides of the house. Cheap, effective, and it also helps you.
Make the house look occupied.Timer switches on lamps in more than one room, a radio on a timer, post collected, no bins left out for days.
Secure side access.A locked side gate is one of the highest-value changes there is — it removes access to the back of the house, where most break-ins happen.
Do not display valuables or their packaging.Keys, laptops and phones visible through a window; boxes for expensive items left out for recycling. Both advertise directly.

Tips

Never leave a spare key hidden outside. Every hiding place you can think of is checked routinely.
Keep car keys away from the front door and out of sight. Fishing keys through a letterbox is a common and quick method.
Photograph valuables and record serial numbers. It helps recovery and it makes insurance claims far simpler.

Common mistakes

Pulling a UPVC door shut without lifting the handle and locking it — The multi-point mechanism is not engaged, and the door can be opened easily. This is extremely common.
Leaving a key under a mat, pot or stone — These are the first places checked, and a hidden key defeats every lock you own.
Relying on an alarm while leaving side access open — Physical access and concealment matter more. A locked gate and cut-back shrubs deter more effectively than an alarm alone.

Questions people ask

What deters burglars the most?

Signs of occupancy, good lighting, visibility from the street, and locked secure doors and windows. Most burglaries are opportunistic, so removing the easy opportunity is what works.

Are security cameras worth it?

They help with evidence and provide some deterrence, but they come after locks, lighting, visibility and secured side access — those prevent entry rather than record it.