
How to secure your basement flat from intruders
If the entrance to your home is below street level and concealed from view, it can cause security issues as intruders will have a degree of privacy when they check out your property.
Fortunately, there are a number of different ways you can improve the security of your basement flat.
Different locking devices
There are a variety of measures you can take to secure your main door such as the use of locks and cylinders with restricted keys that can be cut by qualified locksmiths.
One option is a five-lever deadlock with five brass levers. These have grooves cut into them to create false notching, which makes it much more difficult and time-consuming to pick the lock. Alternatively, a Euro lock cylinder is popular for uPVC doors. Plus, if you fit Euro locks to all external doors, they can be programmed so you only require one key.
A Yale keyless smart lock dispenses with the need for a key altogether. Instead, you input a security pin code directly, or through a smartphone, to gain entry. This is less fiddly than searching for your door key and an ideal option if there are multiple people going in and out of the flat.
Secure window bars
Security bars on basement windows are an excellent way to keep intruders out, but they’re not always practical when it comes to fire safety. Therefore, when considering which window guards you should use, look at the different options available and decide which is best for your flat.
Security grilles for windows and doors can be fixed or collapsible as well as decorative or plain, so you can choose the type most suited to your particular windows.
Specialised window film
Specialist window film that can be applied to existing glass provides a range of security benefits.
Security film allows the glass to withstand a certain amount of impact and serves to slow down and deter intruders. And if the window does break, the film holds the glass together in the frame, making it harder for potential intruders to get in.
As well as protecting the glass, security film also makes an effective barrier as it blocks visibility into your flat. Obscuring an intruder’s view through your windows makes you less of a target for opportunist thieves looking to see if you have any valuable possessions.
Motion-sensor lighting
Motion-sensor lights will significantly improve the security of your flat, and there are many types available, each designed for a particular purpose and environment.
Active-motion sensors send out signals of energy to detect movement. This energy could be ultra-high frequency sound waves, microwaves, or infrared light; the signals bounce off objects and return to the motion sensor.
Passive-motion sensors scan an area for heat. Only objects that generate heat will trigger their sensor light. The sensors are finely tuned to detect a certain level of body heat such as that emitted by a human and will ignore the amount generated by small animals or temperature changes that occur naturally during the day.
If you want to monitor all motion in a set area, then active motion sensors are best as they are triggered more easily. If you only want your sensor light to be activated when a person approaches, then passive motion sensors are more suitable.
Simple garden security
Finally, an easy way to deter intruders is to make a few changes to your garden. First, dense prickly plants such as pyracantha will add another tricky barrier when planted around the perimeter of your garden.
Another tip is to incorporate gravel paths and beds around your flat. Gravel is one of the noisiest surfaces you can choose and will deter the sound-conscious intruder.
Would you like expert advice on basement flat security?
If you’re interested in finding out how the latest home security products can improve the security of your basement property, contact Stuart at Rocks Locks. Stuart will conduct a FREE home security survey and provide advice on the best security solutions to meet your needs and budget. Call Stuart on 07900 335525 or visit www.rocks-locks.co.uk
How to secure your basement flat from intruders
If the entrance to your home is below street level and concealed from view, it can cause security issues as intruders will have a degree of privacy when they check out your property.
Fortunately, there are a number of different ways you can improve the security of your basement flat.
Different locking devices
There are a variety of measures you can take to secure your main door such as the use of locks and cylinders with restricted keys that can be cut by qualified locksmiths.
One option is a five-lever deadlock with five brass levers. These have grooves cut into them to create false notching, which makes it much more difficult and time-consuming to pick the lock. Alternatively, a Euro lock cylinder is popular for uPVC doors. Plus, if you fit Euro locks to all external doors, they can be programmed so you only require one key.
A Yale keyless smart lock dispenses with the need for a key altogether. Instead, you input a security pin code directly, or through a smartphone, to gain entry. This is less fiddly than searching for your door key and an ideal option if there are multiple people going in and out of the flat.
Secure window bars
Security bars on basement windows are an excellent way to keep intruders out, but they’re not always practical when it comes to fire safety. Therefore, when considering which window guards you should use, look at the different options available and decide which is best for your flat.
Security grilles for windows and doors can be fixed or collapsible as well as decorative or plain, so you can choose the type most suited to your particular windows.
Specialised window film
Specialist window film that can be applied to existing glass provides a range of security benefits.
Security film allows the glass to withstand a certain amount of impact and serves to slow down and deter intruders. And if the window does break, the film holds the glass together in the frame, making it harder for potential intruders to get in.
As well as protecting the glass, security film also makes an effective barrier as it blocks visibility into your flat. Obscuring an intruder’s view through your windows makes you less of a target for opportunist thieves looking to see if you have any valuable possessions.
Motion-sensor lighting
Motion-sensor lights will significantly improve the security of your flat, and there are many types available, each designed for a particular purpose and environment.
Active-motion sensors send out signals of energy to detect movement. This energy could be ultra-high frequency sound waves, microwaves, or infrared light; the signals bounce off objects and return to the motion sensor.
Passive-motion sensors scan an area for heat. Only objects that generate heat will trigger their sensor light. The sensors are finely tuned to detect a certain level of body heat such as that emitted by a human and will ignore the amount generated by small animals or temperature changes that occur naturally during the day.
If you want to monitor all motion in a set area, then active motion sensors are best as they are triggered more easily. If you only want your sensor light to be activated when a person approaches, then passive motion sensors are more suitable.
Simple garden security
Finally, an easy way to deter intruders is to make a few changes to your garden. First, dense prickly plants such as pyracantha will add another tricky barrier when planted around the perimeter of your garden.
Another tip is to incorporate gravel paths and beds around your flat. Gravel is one of the noisiest surfaces you can choose and will deter the sound-conscious intruder.
Would you like expert advice on basement flat security?
If you’re interested in finding out how the latest home security products can improve the security of your basement property, contact Stuart at Rocks Locks. Stuart will conduct a FREE home security survey and provide advice on the best security solutions to meet your needs and budget. Call Stuart on 07900 335525.