How to Prevent Burglaries at Home: 15 Expert Tips That Actually Work

Research consistently shows that visible CCTV is the single most effective burglary deterrent. A camera on the front of your house tells every passing opportunist that this property has active security and their face will be recorded.

Position cameras to cover:

• Front door and driveway approach
• Rear garden access points
• Side gates and passages
• Any ground-floor windows not visible from the street

Modern systems include smartphone alerts — you'll know the moment someone approaches your property, whether you're upstairs or on holiday. Learn more about home CCTV installation.

An external bellbox — the yellow or white box on your wall — signals that your home is protected. Even if a burglar defeats one layer of security, the alarm's audible siren and automatic smartphone notification create immediate pressure to leave.

Wireless alarm systems are quick to install and highly reliable. They include door contacts, PIR motion sensors, and app control. See our intruder alarm options.

It sounds basic, but 30% of burglaries involve no forced entry — the thief walked in through an unlocked door or window. Of those that do involve force, many exploit weak locks.

• Front door: BS3621 five-lever mortice lock or multi-point locking system. Most insurance policies require this.
• Back door: Same standard as front. Rear doors are targeted more often because they're less visible.
• Windows: Key-operated window locks on all ground-floor and accessible windows.
• Side gates: Lockable gate with anti-lift hinges. A side passage is the most common route to rear access.

Most burglars approach from the rear. Side gates and passages provide cover from the street while giving access to less secure rear doors and windows. A locked, 1.8m+ side gate that can't be easily climbed or lifted off its hinges forces burglars to attempt entry from the visible front — which most won't risk.

Burglars rely on darkness. Motion-activated lights covering your driveway, front path, side passage, and rear garden remove the cover darkness provides. LED floodlights with PIR sensors are inexpensive and effective — £20–£40 per unit, self-installable.

For maximum deterrence, combine with CCTV cameras that have colour night vision — the light improves both image quality and the deterrent effect.

This sounds obvious, but it's the single most common security failure we see. Back doors left unlocked during the day, bathroom windows left ajar overnight, garage side doors unbolted. Burglars check handles first. Make sure every handle they check is locked.

Social media posts from holiday, piled-up parcels, overflowing bins, and no lights in the evening all signal an empty property. When you're away:

• Use timer switches on lights and a radio — create the impression of occupation
• Ask a neighbour to put bins out and collect post
• Cancel deliveries or redirect them
• Save the holiday photos for when you're home

Read our detailed guide on securing your home while on holiday.

Letterbox fishing — using tools through the letterbox to grab keys left in locks, on hall tables, or hanging on hooks — is a real and common technique. Never leave keys within reaching distance of the letterbox. Fit a letterbox guard if your front door has a wide opening.

Burglars often peer through windows before deciding to enter. Laptops on tables, car keys by the door, handbags on kitchen counters — these are the items they're looking for. Keep valuables away from ground-floor windows, especially at night.

A connected street is a protected street. Neighbours who recognise unfamiliar people, report suspicious activity, and keep an eye on each other's properties are one of the most effective crime prevention measures. Join or start a neighbourhood watch group.

A video doorbell captures everyone who approaches your front door — delivery drivers, visitors, and potential burglars conducting reconnaissance. Many burglaries are preceded by a "knock and check" — ringing the bell to confirm nobody's home. A smart doorbell lets you answer from anywhere, even when you're not in.

For flats and apartment buildings, a door entry system with video intercom prevents unauthorised access to communal areas. See and speak to visitors before buzzing them in — from your phone, wherever you are.

Go beyond basic timer switches. Smart bulbs and plugs let you create realistic lighting schedules that vary each day — mimicking real occupation patterns. Control them from your phone to turn lights on before you arrive home after dark.

The 60-Second Rule

Garages and sheds contain high-value items — tools, bikes, lawnmowers, power equipment — and are often far less secure than the main house. They're also used as entry points to reach rear doors and windows.

• Garage doors: Fit a defender lock or ground anchor. Up-and-over doors are easily forced without additional security.
• Sheds: Coach bolt hinges from the inside, hasp and staple with a closed-shackle padlock, and consider a shed alarm.
• Bikes: Lock bikes to a ground anchor inside the garage or shed, not just to each other.

Your garden is either a barrier or an invitation. Design it for security:

• Thorny planting under ground-floor windows and along fence lines (pyracantha, berberis, hawthorn)
• Gravel paths — impossible to walk on quietly
• Low front hedges — maintain visibility from the street. Burglars love tall front hedges that screen the door from view
• Trellis on fences — a 1.8m fence topped with trellis is difficult to climb without breaking it (alerting neighbours)
• Remove ladders and tools — don't leave burglars the means to reach upper-floor windows

Eagle All Security

Family-run security specialists protecting homes and businesses across London & the Home Counties since 2014. All advice is based on hands-on installation experience.