It’s no secret that most burglars like to operate under the cover of darkness, so consider investing in some security lights for the walls of your house to make sure they’re seen. Avoid ground lighting as thieves can easily access these to cover/break them. Outdoor lighting will help make you feel safer moving around your property at night.  

If your home is dark or looks empty, it’s more likely to be targeted by thieves, so think about making it look like someone is in. Consider investing in some timers to control appliances so they can be set to a time to turn on and off. In the evening, set your lights to turn on overnight. In the daytime, set your radio or TV to turn on at certain times of the day. Some smart homes allow you to manage your appliance from your mobile phone also. 

As gravel is particularly noisy to walk on, the gravel can help alert you to those who approach, including potential intruders. Keep your gravel topped up so it provides the loudest crunch possible or consider gravel if you’re planning to renovate your driveway in the future. 

A burglar alarm that is visible to all who walk past or approach the house is an excellent deterrent against burglars or vandals as well as the best way to alert you and your neighbours to anyone who breaks into your property. Many home insurers offer a discount on premiums if you have a security alarm, and with several options to choose from it quickly becomes worth the investment.

If you’ve got the budget and are serious about home protection, why not invest in some security cameras? As one of the best deterrents out there, burglars know that, if they attempt a break in, they’ll be caught on camera or be seen coming. We’ve included fake on here too because, even though you know they’re fake, the potential burglar will highly likely not know and this is a cheaper way of scaring thieves off.

To keep intruders off of your grounds entirely, why not invest in some wrought iron gates? High gates will be difficult to get over and also protect the front of your property from any impact (e.g. if there is a car crash outside your home). As the first line of defence, opt for a spiked design at the top as this will be even more difficult to climb over without causing harm. 

At Underwood Steel, we are experts in ironmongery and forge wrought iron gates for homes across the West Midlands. As well as contributing towards your home’s security, they’re also aesthetically pleasing. For more information, get in touch with us in Hereford on 01432 265757 or visit our website today.