Handy Hints for Property
How to use Secure Sentinel services for property protection
Put a Secure Sentinel label showing your membership number on portable property such as a laptop or digital camera. If the item is lost and found within Australia, Secure Sentinel will be able to put you in touch with the finder.
For item retrieval while overseas you may be able to attach a Secure Sentinel luggage tag to your property.
You can register up to 20 of your property items including description and serial numbers on your item listing. If the property is lost or stolen, phone Secure Sentinel 24 hours a day to obtain the serial number for your police report or insurance claim.
The item listing provides an external record of your valuable property stored permanently with Secure Sentinel.
Put a Secure Sentinel label showing your membership number on portable property such as a laptop or digital camera. If the item is lost and found within Australia, Secure Sentinel will be able to put you in touch with the finder.
For item retrieval while overseas you may be able to attach a Secure Sentinel luggage tag to your property.
You can register up to 20 of your property items including description and serial numbers on your item listing. If the property is lost or stolen, phone Secure Sentinel 24 hours a day to obtain the serial number for your police report or insurance claim.
The item listing provides an external record of your valuable property stored permanently with Secure Sentinel.
A guide to protecting and identifying your property
Engraving or marking your property, for example, with your Secure Sentinel member number and the Secure Sentinel phone number leaves no doubt as to ownership. It deters others from taking your property because of the difficulties involved in “off loading” identifiable property and helps police recover and return items which may have been stolen. An ultra violet pen rather than an engraver can be used to mark items such as antiques, paintings, jewellery and collectibles.
Secure Sentinel labels showing a membership number can be used for loss prevention when placed for example on your mobile phone, laptop or PDA.
A personal inventory
A detailed inventory should be kept of all your property. Record serial numbers, makes, models and full description on your item listing. Secure Sentinel will keep a secure external record of your inventory for you. This may help police to recover stolen items and will assist in cases of insurance claims.
What you should mark
These items are most often stolen from homes:
Televisions
Video equipment
Musical equipment
Computer equipment
Microwaves
Kitchen appliances
Furniture
Clothing
Cameras
Binoculars
Radios
Sporting goods
Firearms
Clocks.
Security in the home
There are three basic principles involved in securing your home:
Engraving or marking your property, for example, with your Secure Sentinel member number and the Secure Sentinel phone number leaves no doubt as to ownership. It deters others from taking your property because of the difficulties involved in “off loading” identifiable property and helps police recover and return items which may have been stolen. An ultra violet pen rather than an engraver can be used to mark items such as antiques, paintings, jewellery and collectibles.
Secure Sentinel labels showing a membership number can be used for loss prevention when placed for example on your mobile phone, laptop or PDA.
A personal inventory
A detailed inventory should be kept of all your property. Record serial numbers, makes, models and full description on your item listing. Secure Sentinel will keep a secure external record of your inventory for you. This may help police to recover stolen items and will assist in cases of insurance claims.
What you should mark
These items are most often stolen from homes:
Televisions
Video equipment
Musical equipment
Computer equipment
Microwaves
Kitchen appliances
Furniture
Clothing
Cameras
Binoculars
Radios
Sporting goods
Firearms
Clocks.
Security in the home
There are three basic principles involved in securing your home:
- Secure the perimeter (doors and windows) first
- Internal security can be provided by alarms
- Improve visibility with lighting and by removing shrubbery from the line of sight.
Preventing burglary
Break-ins are one of the most common crimes. Most break-ins are crimes of opportunity, with entry gained through an open or unlocked window or door.
There are many ways to improve your home security and significantly reduce the risk of burglary, including:
Break-ins are one of the most common crimes. Most break-ins are crimes of opportunity, with entry gained through an open or unlocked window or door.
There are many ways to improve your home security and significantly reduce the risk of burglary, including:
- Use security deadlocks and grills on doors and windows. We recommend solid core doors. Have one or two window grills hinged to allow easy exit in case of an emergency
- Choose quality deadlocks that allow one key to open all locks
- Do not hide extra keys in flowerpots or under mats
- Do not give your security keys to anyone you do not know
- Do not give your key to trade persons
- Make sure your home is clearly visible from the street. Prune bushes and trees that obscure windows and doors
- Have adequate lighting at outside doors.
- When at home keep doors locked, but make sure you can exit easily if necessary
- Do not leave messages on doors that suggest that no-one is at home
- Avoid having parcels delivered to the doorstep
- If having goods delivered while you are out, have a neighbour collect them
- Wheelie bins can make a great stepladder - lock them away
- When out for a short time, leave a light and the radio or television on to give the impression that someone is at home
- Keep cash and valuables out of easy reach, and out of sight. Do not keep cash on business premises after hours.
Security devices
There is a wide range of security devices available to make your home secure.
Window locks
Most burglars get in through windows, so it makes sense to fit window locks. There are locks for every kind of window, and they can cost very little.
Security doors
Fit good quality steel security doors to all entrances. They provide an additional lock and a barrier between you and a caller.
Door locks
A small investment in quality locks will protect your possessions, including items which cannot be adequately replaced by insurance money, and give personal security for you and your family.
Fit security deadlocks to your main exit doors. These locks can be opened or closed from both sides only with a key. The key should be easily accessible to occupants.
The simple night latch, which you can open from the inside by turning a knob, provides very little security, especially if there is glass nearby. All a burglar needs to do is break the glass, reach in and turn the knob.
A deadlock can be opened only with a key, so a burglar cannot smash nearby glass and open the door from the inside. If the burglar enters through a window your property cannot be carried out through the doors.
If you have deadlocks installed in your home, make sure you leave the keys in the locks on the inside of the door while you are at home.
Special locks for patio doors are available.
Door viewers
A peephole fitted in the door and a light outside allows you to identify callers before letting them in.
Door chains
These help you to speak with strangers at the front door before letting them in. Once you have one fitted, get into the habit of using it. This should not be used as a primary security device.
Advice and assistance
Advice about the most suitable security devices for your home is available from locksmiths, insurance companies or security consultants.
There is a wide range of security devices available to make your home secure.
Window locks
Most burglars get in through windows, so it makes sense to fit window locks. There are locks for every kind of window, and they can cost very little.
Security doors
Fit good quality steel security doors to all entrances. They provide an additional lock and a barrier between you and a caller.
Door locks
A small investment in quality locks will protect your possessions, including items which cannot be adequately replaced by insurance money, and give personal security for you and your family.
Fit security deadlocks to your main exit doors. These locks can be opened or closed from both sides only with a key. The key should be easily accessible to occupants.
The simple night latch, which you can open from the inside by turning a knob, provides very little security, especially if there is glass nearby. All a burglar needs to do is break the glass, reach in and turn the knob.
A deadlock can be opened only with a key, so a burglar cannot smash nearby glass and open the door from the inside. If the burglar enters through a window your property cannot be carried out through the doors.
If you have deadlocks installed in your home, make sure you leave the keys in the locks on the inside of the door while you are at home.
Special locks for patio doors are available.
Door viewers
A peephole fitted in the door and a light outside allows you to identify callers before letting them in.
Door chains
These help you to speak with strangers at the front door before letting them in. Once you have one fitted, get into the habit of using it. This should not be used as a primary security device.
Advice and assistance
Advice about the most suitable security devices for your home is available from locksmiths, insurance companies or security consultants.
Holidays
When away take the following steps to give your house that "lived in" look and reduce the chances of a break-in:
When away take the following steps to give your house that "lived in" look and reduce the chances of a break-in:
- Cancel milk and papers
- Have mail held or redirected
- Have a friend remove junk mail and mow the lawn
- Turn down the telephone
- Inform local police of your absence and leave contact name and number
- Wheelie bins should be locked away or chained to posts away from windows
- Have a friend or neighbour bring in your wheelie bin after being emptied.
Serial number recording
Dishonesty amounts to around 60 per cent of reported crime and includes burglaries and thefts from vehicles. The goods most attractive to burglars and thieves, sometimes referred to as "hot property", are usually small, valuable, easily taken and concealed, and easily disposed of because they are popular and sought after, eg, jewellery, tools, CD and DVD players, mobile phones, computers, digital and video cameras.
Police recover thousands of dollars worth of stolen property every year. Unfortunately many items cannot be returned because the owners did not record the serial numbers or mark the property so it could be identified as belonging to them. Worse still, the property may have to be left with the thief.
People who are able to provide serial numbers of stolen goods to police have a much greater chance of having items returned. Some insurance companies waiver the no claim excess for clients who are able to provide serial number records when they report a loss.
Police suggest keeping valuation certificates and descriptions of your property in a safe place for future reference.
Dishonesty amounts to around 60 per cent of reported crime and includes burglaries and thefts from vehicles. The goods most attractive to burglars and thieves, sometimes referred to as "hot property", are usually small, valuable, easily taken and concealed, and easily disposed of because they are popular and sought after, eg, jewellery, tools, CD and DVD players, mobile phones, computers, digital and video cameras.
Police recover thousands of dollars worth of stolen property every year. Unfortunately many items cannot be returned because the owners did not record the serial numbers or mark the property so it could be identified as belonging to them. Worse still, the property may have to be left with the thief.
People who are able to provide serial numbers of stolen goods to police have a much greater chance of having items returned. Some insurance companies waiver the no claim excess for clients who are able to provide serial number records when they report a loss.
Police suggest keeping valuation certificates and descriptions of your property in a safe place for future reference.