Securing your home
Burglaries do not occur by chance
Research (and sometimes personal experience) tells us that the majority of burglaries are committed by the 'amateur' burglar who looks for an easy opportunity. Good quality locks on doors and windows make it harder for burglars to enter your home and prevent thieves from leaving other than by the way they entered. This minimises items that can be stolen as it is very difficult to carry bulky items. Even a professional may move on rather than spend too much time or make too much noise trying to break into a home protected by quality security products.
Practical ways to protect your home and possessions
Acting on the following three steps will be enough to deter most burglars:
- Install double cylinder deadlocks or deadlatches on all external doors
- Install key operated window locks on all windows
- Install three-point deadlocking locks on all security screen doors
CYL4® One Key Security convenience
CYL4 is a patented innovation that allows ASSA ABLOY window locks and patio bolts to be keyed to door locks that use the most common key type (C4), thus providing customers with the added convenience of having to use only one key around the home.
Most Australian door locks are operated by a C4 key. Traditional window locks are incompatible with a C4 key. Therefore homeowners are required to carry at least one key for their door locks, and a different key (or keys) for their window locks.
The introduction of ASSA ABLOY's unique CYL4 technology has revolutionised home locking security. Whitco's high security window lock and patio bolt ranges incorporate the patented CYL4 cylinder which is quickly and easily keyed alike to your customer's 5 pin C4 door key.
Click here for more information.
Whitco Warranty
For over 50 years, Whitco has been providing Australian homes a wide range of value for money, high quality, locking hardware solutions.
Whitco proudly stands behind its products, warranting them to be free from defects in material and workmanship for a period of ten years from the date of purchase.
Click here for more information.
Going Away Checklist
The following are useful ideas and should be used as appropriate when your home is vacant.
- Lock all door and windows, including garage, house and garden shed.
- Cancel newspaper and milk deliveries.
- Lock away all tools and ladders.
- Arrange for lawns and shrubs to be trimmed while you are away.
- Display "Beware" signs if you have a dog or alarm - advertise it.
- Leave a radio on quietly.
- Do not draw your curtains.
- Leave appropriate internal light(s) on connected to a timer so it goes on at night only.
- Advise your neighbours of your plans. Arrange for mail to be collected if possible or held by the postal service.
Additional Tips
- Always lock your house when you leave, even if you are only going to be away for a few minutes.
- Install a door viewer so you can check who is at the door before you open it.
- Check service provider's credentials before letting them in.
- Take photos of your valuables and use a safe for jewellery and other important possessions.
- Keep valuable hardware and recreational equipment in padlocked sheds and garages.
- Keep shrubs and trees around the house well pruned so as not to provide cover for a burglar.
- Have locks or cylinders changed when you move into a new property or when keys are lost.
- Use padlocks on gates, garages, letterboxes and sheds.
- Install exterior sensor lighting, an internal alarm or hinged window grilles for additional protection.
- Join your local Neighbourhood Watch programme.
- Get involved with your local Neighbourhood Watch programme, crime prevention programmes and prevent property crime and improve personal safety.
- Mark property and record property details.
- 'Look out' for your neighbours and report suspicious activity to Police.
- Improve personal safety and household security through education.
- Contact your Neighbourhood Watch Co-ordinator through your local Police.