Home security is about time and visibility, not fortification
No lock protects absolutely. The realistic aim is simpler: make an attempt slow, noticeable and risky-looking. Most break-ins are a choice of the least protected door in the building rather than an operation against you specifically.
Hence the priorities: a decent door and lock, windows and balcony, no visible signals that nobody is home, and a clear plan for what to do if it happens anyway.
The basics that cover most of the risk
| What | Why it works |
|---|---|
| A solid door and working locks | Time and noise are what break-ins avoid |
| Locks on ground and top-floor windows | And on the balcony door |
| No signs of a long absence | Post, lights, curtains, social media |
| Neighbours who know you | Someone who notices a stranger and calls |
| An inventory of valuables with photos | Needed by police and insurers |
Do not post trips in real time: “we are away for two weeks” reads exactly as it sounds. Photos go up after you return — the one habit change that costs nothing.
Keys and access
Change the locks when you move in and after losing keys. Do not leave a key “in the usual place” — it is found before you need it. Limit the number of sets and know who holds them. A key fob with your address is an open invitation.
If you have a smart lock or an app-based entry system, check who else still has access and whether old codes remain from a renovation, a tenancy or a move.
Long absences
Arrange for someone to collect the post and look in. Put lights on a timer or a smart plug. Move valuables out of obvious places. Leave contacts with a neighbour and do not announce the trip publicly until you are back.
If it happens anyway
Do not go in if the door has been forced: call the police from outside. Touch nothing and do not tidy up — that destroys evidence. Photograph everything, list what is missing, notify your insurer within the deadline and block cards and documents.
When the home is sensibly protected
The door and locks work, windows and balcony close properly, keys are accounted for and carry no address, valuables are listed and photographed, the neighbours know you, absences are not advertised, and every adult knows what to do after a break-in.
