When it comes to protecting our homes, many of us will ensure that there are locks on the doors and windows and that all external gates are safely secured.

However, if you are able to put some money aside to invest in upgrading or purchasing a new home security system, you could save yourself some money on your home insurance policy.

According to police statistics, there were over 550,000 recorded cases of burglary in England and Wales last year* Out of these cases, around 275,000 had taken place in a household or dwelling, with burglaries from other buildings making up the remaining numbers.

Many homeowners will take steps to try and protect their properties and the possessions within. Indeed, many insurers will take kindly to any extra steps you might take in order to further protect your property and to deter potential burglars, and could offer discounts to those who take steps to further protect their properties.

One of the first things to consider is the doors and windows on your property and the locks on them – this can include doors, windows, patio doors and even garden sheds. Fitting a combination of deadbolt and 5-lever locks throughout the property you can give yourself a feeling of security as well as potentially saving you money on your house insurance policy.

There are a number of different types of home security on the market. These can range from movement-sensitive outside lights to burglar alarms which can be activated should there be a disturbance when you are not at home.

Having such a system in place can not only help put your mind at ease when it comes to protecting your home from intruders, but may also help you to reduce the cost of your home insurance premium.

When selecting an alarm system, check that the systems, as well as the fitters, are registered and approved by the National Security Inspectorate (NSI), this will help to indicate a high standard of workmanship and product quality.

Burglar alarms can be activated when you leave the property, with a keypad allowing you to deactivate the alarm during a set time period between when you enter the property and type in the number to deactivate the system.

For items within the property itself, safes can be useful for storing items such as keys and wallets, as well as particularly sensitive information, including document that include personal details.

There are a range of different sizes available to fit any property, and many these will be fire resistant for a certain level of time. By having a safe installed in your home you can help to reduce your premiums by showing your insurance providers that you are taking extra care to protect your prized possessions and vital documentation.

If you live in an area that has a particularly high crime rate, a home CCTV kit could be worth installing in order to keep an eye on the outside of your property. External CCTV cameras can act as a deterrent to wannabe thieves, whilst helping to ensure that the perimeter of your property is under constant surveillance.

These cctv kits can be set up to connect with your existing home entertainment system, allowing you the chance to flick over from watching TV to a camera should you suspect a disturbance. Footage can be recorded and stored onto a specialised recording box (DVR) or onto your computer using your broadband connection and monitoring software

　

*British Crime Survey statistics

article provided by www.moneysupermarket.com

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