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Halloween home security and safety guide
30th October 2013
Halloween is nearly upon us when lots of children will pound
the pavements in search of fun and goodies. Not only is Halloween well known for this but it is also a favourite
time for vandals and pranksters and can be an ideal opportunity for burglars if
you are away from home.
It’s easy for a burglar or vandal to spot when people are
not at home and with lots of people out and about trick or treating a thief can
easily blend in.
It’s important to protect yourself and your property:
·
Put a simple ‘no trick or treaters’ sign on your
front door.
·
Keep windows and doors locked at all times even
when you are in your home.
·
If you do not want unwanted people knocking on
your door don’t answer it.
·
If you have a garage we suggest you park your vehicle in there
so it’s not a target for vandals.
·
If you have exterior spot lights and motion
sensors ensure they are working as this can deter pranksters and burglars from
choosing your home.
·
Legitimate trick or treaters should be off the
streets by about 9pm, any later than this then don’t answer the door unless you
know who it is.
If your children are going trick or treating here’s a few
simple bits of advice you should give them:
·
Remind them not to enter strange houses or cars.
·
Remind them to stay with a friend at all times.
·
Review their route for trick or treating
beforehand and set a time when they should be home.
·
Tell your children not to take shortcuts through
alleyways or parks at night and only trick or treat in well-lit areas.
·
Wherever possible ensure an adult goes out with
the children.
·
When they get home check their treats to ensure
they are safe, our advice is that only factory wrapped treats can be considered
safe to eat.
While we want children to have fun trick or treating make
them aware that some people don’t like it, may get scared when they knock on
the door and that some tricks can scare and hurt people and can vandalise
property. Most of all have fun, stay
safe and respect others.
Seasonal Increase in Residential Burglaries
22nd November 2018
There is always an increase in residential burglaries at this time of year due to the clocks changing when afternoons become darker and in the build up to Christmas.
Our advice is:
Make sure all windows and doors are locked even when you are in the house.
Do not leave keys on t ... Read on
Security tips for rural properties
6th July 2018
Farms and rural properties are often in isolated locations and can be vulnerable to crime if not properly secured and protected. A secure premier around your property and its outbuildings can help deter would be thieves and burglars from targeting livestock, vehicles and buildings within your bound ... Read on
UK Terrorism Threat Level
7th June 2018
The current threat level for international terrorism in the UK is SEVERE. The threat level for the UK from international terrorism is set by the Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre (JTAC). SEVERE means an attack is highly likely.
If you see or hear anything that could be terrorist related trust ... Read on
Winter is coming
26th October 2017
The clocks go back one hour at 2am on Sunday 29th October 2017, this brings with it extended hours of darkness which means your home is left in the dark for longer. This gives burglars longer to strike as it is easier to identify if nobody is home.
Here are a few tips:
Make sure all w ... Read on
Stay safe during a terrorist attack: Run, hide, tell
24th May 2017
In response to the recent events in Manchester, we want to reinforce and emphasise the importance of vigilance and of reporting any concerns to the anti-terrorist hotline. The current UK threat level for international terrorism is: CRITICAL. This means that a terrorist attack is expected imminentl ... Read on
Who responds to your alarm or CCTV?
9th March 2017
A burglar who raided a Cotswold Farmhouse and stole more than £10,000 worth of jewellery has appeared in Court and received a suspended prison sentence despite the devastating impact the offence has had on the owners.
The perpetrator was caught because his face was clearly visible on the ... Read on
Home Security myths courtesy of Compare The Market
31st October 2016
Compare the Market have surveyed more than 1000 people to understand and then debunk some assumptions around home security. Interestingly, they’ve discovered that it’s the younger generation who are more likely to be victims of burglary and these people are the least likely to have contents insura ... Read on
Protect yourself online
6th June 2016
With an increase in the use of social media (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram) to stay in contact with people we know there has also been an increase in the use of social media by the criminal fraternity to find their next victim.
Many people post on social media when they are going on holiday, ou ... Read on
Burglary Prevention List
4th February 2016
West Mercia Police have compiled the following burglary prevention list:
Set a timer switch to control your lights to come on and off at various times when no-one is at home, as an unlit house can attract unwanted attention.
Remember to lock your doors, patio and downstairs windows even ... Read on
Security advice regarding outbuildings
2nd December 2015
West Mercia Police have produced the following useful advice in relation to the security of outbuildings following an increase in the number of shed break-in's recently.
Garages and sheds are vulnerable to burglary, as they are generally quite flimsy structures, but they should not be forgotte ... Read on
Your home through the eyes of a criminal
19th October 2015
Recent research has concluded that it only takes five minutes for three burglars to enter your home and make away with your most expensive items. Laptops and computer equipment are the biggest growers in terms of popularity amongst burglars. In 2004-2005 just 16% of burglaries involved laptops bei ... Read on
Holiday home security checklist
16th June 2015
The temperature is hotting up and its not long until the schools finish for the summer. The next few months are some of the busiest months for people going away on holiday. PHX Security Ltd have compiled a holiday home security checklist to assist you with ensuring your home is safe and secure whi ... Read on
Where do you keep your valuables?
25th March 2015
The most popular hiding place amongst the Brits is their sock draw! Confused.com conducted a survey and of those questioned 13 people said that their sock draw was their safe place of choice. This was followed by the top of the wardrobe, under the bed and under their sink. 51% of those questioned ... Read on
Identifying vulnerable households in the community - Gloucestershire Fire and Rescue Service
8th January 2015
We have just received the following information from John Beard - Gloucestershire Fire and Rescue Service.
John says that over the last two years they have seen a significant number of fire related incidents in households where hoarding or poor housekeeping has been a contributory factor. Sad ... Read on
Have you thought about your security this Christmas?
17th December 2014
At this time of year most of us have completed our Christmas shopping and this results in our homes becoming a perfect target for burglars who want to help themselves to these sometimes expensive gifts. The Christmas party season is well underway meaning that homes are empty during the evening and ... Read on
Crime in the North Cotswolds
13th October 2014
Here is a small selection of reported crimes in the North Cotswold Area, these were circulated to us by Gloucestershire Constabulary.
Incident 112 2/9/14 Fortey Road, Northleach. Between 0900hrs and 2200hrs on 1st September damage was caused to the lock of a house after glue was poured in the ... Read on
Crime Statistics
13th August 2014
DCC Rod Hansen from Gloucestershire Constabulary reports
that in Gloucestershire there has been a 0.4% reduction in reported crime,
great you may think however when the figures are examined more closely it
becomes apparent that there has been a rise in Burglary and Theft.
Figures in DCC Rod Ha ... Read on
Whose at the door?
28th April 2014
If someone knocked on your door would you instinctively
just open the door? Some people blindly
open the door to see who it is or what they want, this is not a good idea,
obviously if you know the person then that’s different. Once the door is opened even slightly it
makes it easy for the pe ... Read on
Going abroad to avoid the cold weather?
28th January 2014
Are you going away to escape the UK winter weather?
Many people choose to go on holiday to warmer places during the winter months to avoid the cold UK weather. Be it just for 2 weeks or an extended holiday, before you go it's really important to address your home security. That way you can ... Read on
Christmas Home and Business Security Tips
12th December 2013
December is the time of year where we all go shopping for
gifts for our loved ones. This means
that in the build up to Christmas our homes become a perfect target for
burglars who want to help themselves to these sometimes expensive gifts. December is also the time of year where
people atten ... Read on
Don't become the victim of Burglary
22nd November 2013
Don’t become a victim
of crime now the clocks have gone back and dark nights draw in.
As the winter months draw in, burglars are more likely to
target your home or business. Research
from Halifax suggests that burglaries increase by as much as 20% during the
winter months. Reports from our ... Read on
What is a key holding service
18th October 2013
So what is key holding?
If you own a business or property and have an intruder alarm
it’s important that you can respond quickly in the event of activation. This is equally important in this day and age
where noise pollution is a hot topic.
Key holding services prevent delays in respondi ... Read on
Security advice for small businesses
27th September 2013
Today more than ever there are unfortunately greater threats
to people and property. Owners of all types of businesses are not
immune to this threat. Some small
businesses fail to address their security needs until it’s too late and there
has been an incident on their premises. Small busines ... Read on
False Alarm Activations
8th August 2013
The 6 Most Common Causes of False Alarm Activations
As a company that responds to clients alarm
activations we encounter false alarms from time to time. We have put together a list to give our
clients a better understanding of the 6 most common causes of false alarms.
1)
... Read on
How nosey are your neighbours?
4th July 2013
If you are concerned about the safety of your home or
business, you are most likely to have installed an intruder alarm in order to
keep your property, loved ones and yourself safe from harm. An intruder alarm has a series of sensors to
sense when someone has broken into the property which ... Read on
Don't become the target of thieves
24th June 2013
£2,000 worth of property has been stolen during a daytime burglary in Worcester. This happened between 9.50am and 1pm on Friday 21st June 2013. Thieves broke into the house by smashing the glass in the rear patio door before making an untidy search of the rooms.
... Read on
Welcome to the PHX Blog and new website
17th June 2013
Welcome to the new PHX website and PHX Blog. Please follow our Blog for the latest PHX Security news and information around Worcestershire, Gloucestershire, Warwickshire and Oxfordshire regarding local crime updates and advice on improving your home and business security.
The website and bl ... Read on
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