Locksmiths In Birmingham

How to Prevent Burglaries in the Birmingham Area

Birmingham may not have the annual crime rate of some of the more notorious cities in the UK, but it’s by no means ranked well amongst other cities in the nation. To give an idea of the numbers, the Mirror’s database of crime statistics compiled for cities and towns across the UK ranks Birmingham in roughly the bottom third of all the communities it monitors.

Another way of framing that statistic is to say that more than five out of every 100 residents in Birmingham fell victim to one of the crimes listed in the database over a six month period. These include everything from violent crime to theft and burglary – with a great deal in between.

To provide context for the current state of criminal affairs in Birmingham, we’ve excerpted a few statistics for you below. In each case, the figure given indicates the number of people out of 100 residents affected by a particular crime:

Burglary – 0.84

Robbery – 0.27

Vehicle crime – 0.88

Violent and sexual crime – 1.54

Drug-related crime – 0.33

Shoplifting – 0.60

While Birmingham isn’t nearly as dangerous a place as, say, birmingham City or Manchester, it still has plenty of room for improvement. And even as the overall rate of burglaries in the greater Birmingham area has been decreasing recently, daily incidents are still part of the equation. With that in mind, it’s important to stay vigilant and to avoid being lulled into a false sense of security.

And for a person who has become the victim of a burglary in Birmingham, telling them that the overall crime rate is in decline isn’t going to be much consolation. On the contrary, once a crime has affected your life in a personal way, theoretical statistics become more or less irrelevant.

Victims of Burglary: A Major Intrusion

From November 2014 to December 2015, shoplifting and overall ‘anti-social behaviour’ constituted the majority of reported crime in Birmingham, according to UK Crime Stats. Burglaries made up a much smaller slice of the pie. But for those 114 property owners who reported a burglary during that period, the damage was real.

Even in the event that nothing of significant value is stolen, the mere invasion of a burglary is unnerving. Knowing that a stranger has been in your own private space, rifling through your belongings and helping themselves to your possessions is off-putting – to say the least. 

Many who have been burgled find that the feeling of discomfort remains with them for some time, even after they’ve got over the financial fallout of replacing stolen or vandalised property. Needless to say, it’s preferable to make a point of securing your property with strong locks and other barriers to entry. 

 

• Valuables were left near windows
  One of the most common reasons that burglars select a particular residence to break in to is because they can see something like a smart phone, notebook computer, handbag or wallet through the window. This is low-hanging fruit, and it’s easily converted into quick cash on the streets. Make a point of storing your valuables out of sight – and well away from windows.
• Premises are poorly lit
  Burglary and darkness go hand-in-hand. If neighbours can see a person breaking in to a property, they’re likely to call the police – or even head outside to confront the culprit. Exterior lighting or even strategically placed lights triggered by motion detectors significantly limit the space in which burglars can hide.
• Barriers to entry are in disrepair
  It doesn’t matter how well built your fence or wall is. If the locks that secure it are in need of repair, a passing thieve will take notice. The same goes for garage doors, windows and any other potential entrances into the property.
• Hedges are overgrown
  This is an easy factor to overlook. If your shrubs and hedges are overgrown, you’re leaving would-be burglars with convenient cover while they lurk on your property. Remember, anyone considering breaking in to your property is going to be encouraged if those living around you can’t really see what’s going on.
• Keys are accessible
  Don’t believe for a minute that a thief is not going to look under the welcome mat or in other obvious hiding places for your spare key. By the same token, if you’ve recently lost a key, it’s best to assume that someone else may have found it. Change your locks and be done with it.

Whether you’ve already been burgled, lost your keys or would simply like a second opinion on the security level of your home or office, don’t hesitate to contact LockRite. We’ll have a look at your property, replace your locks and – whenever possible – offer suggestions on how you can maintain more secure premises. 

All of our locksmiths are local, and that works to your advantage for a variety of reasons. To begin with, we can reach your property in 20 to 40 minutes to help remedy the situation and get your property back on the right path. Best of all, we’re available 24 hours a day.

But being local also means that we know the neighbourhoods in and around Birmingham. We’ve responded to countless calls in the area, and we know when, where and how break-ins are likely to occur. Contact LockRite today to see how we can help.