The clocks haven’t changed yet, but you can already feel the evenings drawing in.

And once autumn really takes hold, there’s a simple difference between leaving the house at 6pm in July and leaving it at 6pm in November:

in November, darkness can make an empty home much easier to spot.

Police forces regularly remind homeowners to review their security as the nights get longer, with simple measures such as locking doors and windows, keeping keys and valuables out of sight and using timer switches when nobody is home.

So this isn’t about turning your home into Fort Knox.

It’s a 10-minute walk around the house to spot some of the easy things we all become a little too familiar with.

Homeowner or renter, start at the front door.

1. Is your front door actually locked?

Sounds obvious.

But there’s a difference between closing a door and properly locking it.

Police.uk recommends closing and locking doors and windows whenever you leave, even if you’re only going out briefly, and double-locking doors where appropriate.

Have a look at the door itself too.

Does the lock work properly?

Does the door close securely?

Is there damage around the lock or frame?

And where are your keys?

Keeping house and car keys immediately beside the front door, letterbox or cat flap can make them accessible from outside.

Move them somewhere less obvious.

2. When did you last check every window?

Walk around the house.

Ground-floor windows are the obvious ones, but don’t ignore accessible upstairs windows.

A flat roof, extension, garage roof, wheelie bin, garden furniture or ladder can potentially make a higher window easier to reach than you think.

Police.uk specifically recommends checking accessible windows and keeping ladders securely stored rather than leaving them available in the garden.

Close and lock windows when you’re out and check that the locks themselves still operate properly.

3. Can somebody simply open the side gate?

Try it.

Side access can provide a route from the front of a property into a more private rear garden.

A properly secured gate won’t make a home impenetrable, but it removes an easy opportunity.

While you’re there, look at the boundary generally.

Is there anything obviously broken?

Is the gate actually being locked, or has everybody in the household gradually stopped bothering?

Home security is often as much about habits as hardware.

4. What’s sitting in the shed or garage?

Bikes.

Power tools.

Garden equipment.

Ladders.

All things worth securing in their own right.

But some items can potentially also help somebody gain access to the house.

Police guidance recommends locking sheds and garages and storing tools, bikes and other equipment securely.

So check the shed door.

Check the garage.

Put the ladder away.

And don’t spend hundreds securing the front door while leaving several thousand pounds’ worth of bikes and tools behind a shed latch that barely closes.

5. What does your house look like when nobody is home?

This is particularly relevant as the evenings get darker.

If you regularly leave for work in daylight and return after dark, your home may spend several hours visibly unoccupied.

A simple lamp on a timer or smart plug can make the property appear occupied.

Police.uk specifically recommends timers for lights, and potentially a radio, when a home will otherwise be dark.

You don’t need every light in the house blazing from 3pm until midnight.

The aim is simply to avoid an obvious pattern of complete darkness whenever nobody is there.

6. Does your outside lighting work?

Check it before you need it.

A suitable external light can improve visibility around entrances, paths and other access points.

Motion-activated lighting is one option.

But think about positioning and neighbours too.

A badly positioned security light that repeatedly illuminates somebody else’s bedroom window is unlikely to improve community relations.

Lighting should form part of your overall security rather than being treated as a guarantee that nobody will approach the property.

7. What can you see through your own windows?

Here’s a useful test.

Stand outside your house and look in.

What can you see?

Laptop?

Handbag?

Car keys?

Wallet?

Tablet?

Christmas presents later in the year?

Police advice is to keep valuables out of sight and keys away from windows, doors, letterboxes and cat flaps.

You don’t need to strip the house bare every time you go out.

Just don’t unnecessarily advertise what’s available.

8. What’s your plan for parcels?

Online shopping creates another very modern clue that nobody is home.

A parcel sitting outside the front door for six hours is both vulnerable itself and a visible sign that nobody has collected it.

Where possible, consider:

• a designated safe place
• delivery to a trusted neighbour
• a parcel locker or collection point
• arranging delivery for when somebody is home

And if you’re away, avoid allowing post, parcels or newspapers to accumulate.

That’s the 10-minute check

Front door.

Windows.

Side gate.

Shed and garage.

Lighting.

Outside light.

Valuables.

Parcels.

Nothing particularly sophisticated.

And that’s the point.

Home security doesn’t always start with buying something.

Sometimes it starts by noticing the easy opportunities you’ve stopped noticing because you see your home every day.

What if you rent your home?

Most of this checklist applies whether you own or rent.

Lock the doors and windows provided.

Keep your belongings and keys somewhere sensible.

Secure your own possessions.

And report defects promptly.

If a window won’t secure properly, an external door or lock is damaged or there’s another repair issue affecting the property, contact your landlord in writing.

Government guidance says landlords are responsible for repairs to the structure and exterior and that rented properties should be safe and in a good state of repair. Tenants should report repair problems to their landlord.

Don’t make significant alterations to a rented property without first checking your tenancy agreement and getting any permission required.

And remember that your landlord’s buildings insurance does not necessarily protect your personal possessions.

Consider appropriate contents insurance for your own belongings.

Are video doorbells and smart security worth having?

They can be useful.

Video doorbells, cameras, alarms and smart lighting all have a place in modern home security.

But we’d put the basics first.

There’s limited value in a sophisticated camera system if the side gate doesn’t lock and somebody regularly leaves the back window open.

If you’re installing CCTV or a video doorbell, also remember privacy.

Police.uk advises homeowners using domestic CCTV to make sure it’s used in a way that respects other people’s privacy.

For renters, check before drilling into doors, walls or other parts of the property.

What should you do when you go on holiday?

This is where the same principles become even more important.

Before leaving:

• lock doors and windows
• secure sheds and garages
• use timers appropriately
• arrange for post and parcels to be dealt with
• ask somebody you trust to keep an eye on the property
• avoid unnecessarily advertising that the house is empty

Police.uk specifically advises using timers and asking a trusted neighbour to keep an eye on the property while you’re away. It also recommends restricting holiday posts on social media rather than publicly broadcasting that the house is empty.

There will still be plenty of time to share the holiday photographs when you’re home.

Can neighbours help with home security?

Absolutely.

Knowing the people around you has benefits that go well beyond security.

A trusted neighbour may notice that a parcel has been sitting outside all day, bring a bin in, spot something unusual or keep an eye on the property while you’re away.

Neighbourhood Watch schemes can also provide local crime-prevention information and help communities stay connected.

It isn’t a replacement for securing your own home.

It’s another layer.

And sometimes simply knowing the people living two doors away makes a street feel much more like a community.

What about an empty property you’re selling?

A vacant property needs a little more thought.

If you’ve already moved out, inherited a property or are selling somewhere remotely, check your insurance immediately because unoccupied-property conditions can differ between policies.

Keep the exterior maintained.

Deal with post.

Check the property regularly in accordance with any insurance requirements.

Keep it appropriately heated during colder weather where required.

And think carefully about who has keys.

At Location Location East, accompanied viewings mean sellers don’t necessarily need to travel back to an empty property every time somebody wants to view it.

For us, that’s part of looking after the sale properly rather than simply putting a property online and handing out an address.

Home security when you’re selling your property

There are a couple of extra considerations once your home is on the market.

Viewings naturally mean more people are visiting.

That’s another reason we value accompanied viewings.

We can show buyers around, answer questions and manage the appointment while the seller gets on with their day.

Before any viewing, we’d still suggest putting keys, wallets, medication, important documents and other personal valuables somewhere secure and out of sight.

It’s not about distrusting genuine buyers.

It’s simply a sensible habit whenever unfamiliar people are visiting your home.

Darker evenings around Thetford and the Brecks

One of the things we like about working around Thetford and the Brecks is the variety of homes we deal with.

Town-centre terraces.

Family estates.

Bungalows.

Village homes.

Properties surrounded by open countryside.

Security considerations won’t be identical for all of them.

A home with rear access has different considerations from an apartment.

A rural property has different surroundings from a town-centre terrace.

But the starting point is remarkably similar:

doors, windows, boundaries, lighting and everyday habits.

Ten minutes walking around your own property this autumn might identify something you’ve walked past every day for the last year.

That’s ten minutes well spent.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the easiest way to improve home security?

Start with the basics: properly lock doors and windows, keep keys and valuables away from accessible doors and windows, secure side gates and outbuildings, and use lighting appropriately when you’re away. These measures are consistently recommended in police crime-prevention guidance.

Should I leave a light on when I’m out at night?

Police guidance recommends using timers to operate lights when your home would otherwise be visibly unoccupied after dark. A timer or smart plug can be more practical than leaving a light permanently switched on.

Should you lock your doors when you’re at home?

Police forces advise keeping doors and accessible windows secure, including when you’re at home. Exactly how you manage locks should also allow occupants to leave safely in an emergency.

Where should I keep my car keys at night?

Keep keys away from doors, windows, letterboxes and cat flaps and out of obvious sight. Police guidance specifically warns against leaving keys where somebody could potentially reach or hook them from outside.

Should upstairs windows be locked?

Consider whether an upstairs window is actually accessible. Flat roofs, garages, bins, garden furniture and ladders can potentially provide access. Police.uk recommends securing accessible windows and keeping ladders locked away.

Are video doorbells good for home security?

They can form part of a wider security setup, alongside secure doors, windows, gates, lighting and sensible habits. If a camera captures areas outside your property, make sure you understand the privacy implications.

Who is responsible for a broken lock in a rented home?

Responsibility depends on what has happened and the tenancy circumstances, but landlords have legal repairing and safety responsibilities and tenants should promptly report defects. If a door or window can no longer be secured properly, notify the landlord rather than ignoring it.

Does my landlord’s insurance cover my belongings?

A landlord’s insurance should not be assumed to cover a tenant’s personal possessions. Tenants should consider their own contents insurance appropriate to their circumstances. Government guidance specifically advises tenants that a landlord will not necessarily be responsible for belongings lost during a burglary.

Should I post holiday photos while I’m away?

Think carefully about who can see them. Police.uk advises making holiday social-media posts private and limiting them to friends rather than publicly advertising that your home is unoccupied.

Can Location Location East accompany viewings while I’m selling?

Yes. Accompanied viewings are an important part of the service we provide. They allow us to manage the appointment, speak directly with potential buyers and provide feedback afterwards, while reducing the need for sellers to conduct viewings themselves.

Sources

Police.uk, Checklist for securing your home when you leave it, covering doors and windows, valuables, keys, timer lighting, side gates, sheds and security while away.

Police.uk, Window security, including guidance on accessible windows, window locks and securing ladders.

Police.uk, Door security, including locks, keys, letterboxes and domestic CCTV.

GOV.UK, Private renting: Repairs and Your rights and responsibilities, covering landlord repairing responsibilities and tenants reporting defects.

This article provides general home-security information. Individual properties, insurance policies and security needs vary. For specific crime-prevention or security advice, consult your local police service, insurer or an appropriately qualified security professional.

Article by Andrew Overman | Partner | Location Location East