Personal
injury solicitors Rochdale are reminding people to ensure their household
is properly secured, especially as the dark nights draw in and the fear of
criminality increases.
Research by MoneySuperMarket revealed many
Brits are failing to adhere to even the most basic home protection strategies,
with 1.6 million people, or 3% of the nation, actually leaving a spare key to
their home under the doormat. This means that criminals - who may be planning
worse than a burglary - only need to check 33 doormats before they find a key
to enter a property.
Furthermore, a massive 25% of people
admitted occasionally leaving their windows and doors unlocked when the house
is unoccupied, making the building a target for criminals. No win no fee
solicitors Rochdale know that many criminals are opportunistic, and seeing an
open window could be all it takes for them to decide to break into a building.
Social media poses new risks to home
security, with 17% of people aged 18 to 34 saying they post on social
networking sites when they are going to be away from home. Many high-profile
burglaries have occurred due to this issue, with footballers and celebrities
finding that these Tweets and Facebook posts can see their houses ransacked.
While the survey found that many Brits are
leaving their homes insecure, personal injury solicitors Rochdale were pleased
to see that many victims of crime learned from their mistakes. Of those who had
been burgled, 28% began checking that their windows are closed at night, 31%
invested in window and door locks, and 22% now ensure that keys and possessions
are not in clear sight.
Although it is impossible to completely
protect a building from determined criminals, a few simple measures can make a
massive difference. Nonetheless, 71% of homes do not have a burglar alarm
fitted, 24% don't have any external security lights, and 46% don't set up
timers for their lights when they go out on holiday.
The risks of a home invasion or a burglary
are real and significant. No win no fee payment advance solicitors Rochdale would advise people
to treat these risks as seriously as they should.
