1. Always keep your home locked. Preferably with deadlocks and keyed window locks. If you have a security alarm, make sure it is armed when you go out.
2. An overgrown garden is good for privacy but not for security. It provides a good hiding spot for burglars, particularly when it’s dark.
3. Always keep your garage door shut. This will keep burglars guessing as to whether you’re at home and reduce the likelihood of theft.
4. Install a peephole or an audio or video intercom in your front door so you can see exactly who is calling.
5. Keep tools and heavy objects out of sight as these could be used to gain entry. If you have a garden shed make sure it’s locked when you’re not at home.
6. Don’t leave keys in clever hiding spots. Burglars know where they are! And don’t leave your car keys hanging up just inside the front door – it’s one of the easiest ways for a burglar to steal your car.
7. Make sure packages are never left on your doorstep. Arrange for them to be dropped off when someone is home or organise for a neighbour to collect them.
8. Always keep your home well lit with security, garden and porch lights. Remember, burglars don’t like to be seen.
9. Never attach your address to your house keys.
10. Install a phone, or panic button, near your bed. If you hear of an intruder in or around your house call 131 – 444 for police assistance. If it’s a life threatening situation, dial 000.

• Having the top 3 deterrents against burglary:
1. Alarm
2. Barking Dog
3. Property Marking
• Ensuring doors and windows are shut and locked – if open, their ability to keep someone out is virtually zero.
• Ensuring proper deadlocks are fitted to the door. This ensures that the doors cannot be opened by the intruder when trying to carry your valuables out!
• There is great value in installing Stainless Steel Sentry Mesh as it provides a very secure cover for doors and windows while still allowing ventilation and viewing.
• An important point to note is that Security Screens are generally fitted to the opening door/window leaving the adjacent window largely unprotected –an option is to fit a Security Film onto the inside of the window which will increase the security and safety of that window.
• Roller Shutters provide a high degree of privacy and additional insulation – reducing your heating and cooling bills, but they generally don’t provide much in the way of security.
• Whether or not screens are fitted, the RAC Security can fit Vibration Sensors to the inside of windows. These are designed to detect anyone attempting to break through the window.
• Further protection is available with the addition of an outdoor Motion Sensor that can detect the intruder moving about your yard before they even try breaking in!
• The most recent security measures are video cameras, whether an array of surveillance cameras about the property or even just a video intercom viewing visitors at the front door/gate. These cameras can be recorded onto a Hard Drive Recorder and images provided to the police to assist in identifying them later.
• Where Security Lights are fitted, they can definitely expose intruders attempting to move secretly about your property.
• Finally, we strongly endorse Neighbourhood Security and strongly recommend knowing your neighbour and keeping an eye out for each other.

• Lock up tools that might be used to gain entry to your home
• Cancel milk and paper deliveries
• Deposit valuables in a secure place such as a bank
• Lock all windows and doors
• Ask a trusted neighbour to keep an eye on your home and use your driveway to park their vehicles
• Don’t leave your blinds and shades in the same position
• Ask a neighbour to collect letters and junk mail
• Use electronic times to switch lights and radios on and off
• Turn down the ringing volume of their phones.

Garden design to improve the security of your home
Incorporating thorny plants near windows and along boundaries limits physical access. Plants like climbing roses and bougainvilleas are incredibly effective physical barriers over fences whilst adding great beauty to a property. Roses, Grevilleas and hedging plants like the Natal Plum make great shrubs for borders and hedges and using them near windows allows you to admire their beauty from inside whilst they limit visibility into the home. Avoid blocking views from windows as clear vision from the house is important.

Windows with security stickers should be clearly visible creating no doubt for anyone considering entering the property illegally. Be sure to plant smaller shrubs at the front of your block and larger ones at the back. Planting low barriers that steer visitors towards main entrances is clever design.

Trees can also block visual access to your alarm warning light and provide physical access to windows and even the roof. Plant them on the boundary line of your garden to avoid trouble whilst enjoying their beauty.

The video and Fact Sheet on outdoor security is proudly brought to you by RAC Security, WA’s largest domestic installer of all your Security related needs. Special RAC member prices apply.

Call us today for an obligation-free appraisal or visit any of our RAC branches or our website for more information on: 1300 360 504