Keeping your home safe and secure is a primary concern for most households especially during winter.
Keeping your home safe and secure is a primary concern for most households especially during winter.
In the last 12 months there have been over 9,000 burglaries in Ireland according to the CSO September 2023 data. So, it is understandable that our recent research with Bounce Insights, July 2023 outlines that 56% of people surveyed are more conscious of the risk of burglaries now than they were 12 months ago.
As the evenings become darker, we are more aware of being alone at home and feeling vulnerable. Research also revealed that 58% of people feel less safe in their homes during the winter months and 64% feel less safe during the night.
The winter months are notorious for increased rates in burglary; indeed, the research indicates that burglaries increase by almost 20% in winter months, with nearly half of these burglaries occurring between 5pm and 11pm.
However, we can take actions to drastically reduce the likelihood of experiencing a burglary by implementing adequate home security measures.
Keep doors locked and windows closed when you are not at home: One in four burglaries happen due to entry through an open door or window. If you have school going kids, we have created a safety rules at home guide to keep your family safe during school periods.
It's important to keep all entry points to your home protected 24/7 all year round but especially during the winter months. According to statistics from the Gardai, burglars commonly target back doors (26%), back windows (24%) and front windows (8%), with one in five cases involving a burglar getting access through an unsecured door or window. In some cases, burglars are aware of people’s schedules within the community but if you safeguard your home with adequate security measures like installing a monitored alarm, they know they won’t be able to get into your home without an alarm activating and alarm receiving centre team promptly reviewing the incident and alerting the Gardaí.
Marguerite Cotter, Marketing Director of PhoneWatch, outlined “It’s reassuring to note that national burglary rate has decreased in the last 12 months (from July 2022 to June 2023). However, we can’t become complacent, it is important to remain vigilant when it comes to home security. Even one burglary is one too many. At PhoneWatch we know from speaking to new customers how traumatizing a burglary can be for the homeowner. We want to remind all homeowners to take simple but necessary steps to help avoid the trauma of a burglary in their home. This is especially important in these darker evenings as winter sets in when typically burglary rates are known to increase.”
PhoneWatch’s aim is to ensure people always feel safe in their homes and so we have devised six simple winter home security tips for you to implement to ensure your home and everyone inside is protected.
If you are interested in improving your home safety further, PhoneWatch offer a number of home safety solutions. Browse our website to see the range of different home security products and services available including home alarms, fire & smoke alarms, smart home products, water leak detectors and more.