Burglary is an ever-present threat to a home, but there are a number of ways in which you can help to mitigate it. For instance, you can effectively discourage a break in through using signs that tell people that surveillance systems are present (many would choose a less risky target), or you can make it difficult to physically break in with more secure doors and locking mechanisms.

As with most things in life, what you want to gain in terms of security for your home and the property it contains is going to come down to how much money you’re willing to spend. There are a lot of fairly cheap methods for reducing the risk of a break-in, such as placing signs indicating the presence of surveillance cameras, without the actual systems (sneaky!), or using anti-burglar paint for walls on your property to prevent people from climbing them easily.

More expensive options can be done in conjunction with the cheaper methods of security to maximise effectiveness. Purchasing a robust surveillance system could cost as much as £2000, but in return, you will be able to increase the chance of regaining any lost property. Buying expensive locks that are difficult to pick is also very useful, as is buying doors and windows that are more difficult to physically force through.