home security

[iaaems]

Basic home security can be quite simple and effective. If you have a conventional wooden front door with a Yale type latch then it would be a good idea to fit a deadlock to the door as well - preferably a mortice type of fixture which complies with the latest British Standards. If you have a back door of the same construction then I would suggest a deadlock here too. If you are in the house then shoot bolts top and bottom would come in handy as well. Whilst on the subject - UPVC doors usually come with multipoint locking systems. Older types did have only one lock and it might just be possible to upgrade these with a bit of thought.
Opening ground floor windows should have visible locks and any opening windows that can be accessed from a flat roof should also have the same treatment. It is also possible to improve up and over garage doors with extra locks and or shoot bolts.
The thinking behind all this is that a regular/professional burglar will easily spot what you have done and keep clear because he will realise that you have given this some thought and hard work is not the name of the game. An opportunist/amateur will have a hard time and/or make a mess of things and hopefully give up and go away having learned a lesson or two.
There might just be a further benefit here if you tell your insurance company that you have upgraded security that you could get extra cover at no further expense or possibly a discount on your premiums.
If you are considering cctv then good lenses on the cameras are a must if you want to be able to identify the perpetrators and I understand that there are certain planning requirements that you have to adhere to as well with regard to minimum camera height and the number of cameras. I would also suggest that a covert system might be preferable to an overt one - but that does rather depend on your area and particular problem.
Hope this has been of some use.