WE’VE all been spending less in lockdown – including on household insurance.
But as we start venturing out again it becomes important to protect your home once more.
Fortunately it doesn’t have to come at a huge cost.
I spoke to Izzy Schulman, director at locksmith Keys4U, who shared his tips for keeping your property safe without breaking the bank.
NAIL IT: Izzy says: “Over a quarter of burglaries are a result of simply forcing entry, which can take just seconds.
“You can easily reinforce your door to protect against brute force.
“One cost-effective way is to replace the screws holding the strike plate and hinges with longer ones.
“Use screws around 7cm to 8cm long so they reach beyond the door frame and into the structure of the house.”
LOCKED AWAY: Izzy says: “You don’t need a safe from a diamond heist movie — there are plenty of affordable lockable containers on the market.
“Burglars aim to get in and out of a home as quickly as possible to avoid detection.
“And almost half of UK burglaries are opportunistic, so burglars often won’t be carrying tools to help them break open secure storage.”
My tip: Screwfix sells a small electronic safe for just £34.99 — most safes usually retail at around £100 or over.
ALWAYS WATCHING: Izzy says: “Ex-burglars claim the biggest deterrent when targeting a home is a visible CCTV system, but a cost-effective alternative is a smart doorbell.
“They record footage from the front door, and fit easily in place of your existing doorbell, saving on the cost of a professional installer.”
My tip: Wowcher currently has HD wifi doorbells on sale for £25.99, down from £89.99.
CHANGING HABITS: Izzy says: “Practising simple, safe habits can protect your home and doesn’t cost a penny.
“Keep valuables out of sight of windows and letterboxes as thieves may scout properties and weigh up the risk and reward of breaking in.”
- All prices on page correct at time of going to press. Deals and offers subject to availability.
Deal of the day
IN need of a new scent? DKNY Golden Delicious is on sale at Superdrug for £19, down from £38. The offer runs until Tuesday.
SAVE: £19
Cheap treat
CHECK out the Unbelievable ALT range at Tesco. It tastes just like meat but is totally meat-free.
I like the Mighty Beefless Mince – it’s great for lasagne and costs £3.69.
