uPVC doors and Burglaries

We are asking residents to ensure that they are correctly locking their uPVC front doors,
as burglaries continue to occur where the doors have not been secured properly.
During one week alone last month there was at least one burglary each day in the BR5
and BR6 postcode areas, where the door had not been properly locked.

Burglars are targeting properties with high value cars - Audi's, BMW's & Mercedes -
and are stealing the cars after getting the keys by gaining access to the property via the
unsecured doors. UPVC doors can be easily opened from the outside if they are not
locked with the key from inside. Shutting the door and merely pulling the handle up
does not in fact lock most of these doors, and it is then relatively easy for a skilled thief
to pull the handle down and ‘pop’ it open.

To correctly lock the door you should close the door, pull the handle up and then
use the key to lock the handle in place. This is also known as deadlocking and will
greatly increase the security of your door. Whilst this is the best method of protection,
you should also ensure that you are able to exit as quickly as possible. Therefore,
advice is that you keep house keys upstairs or store them near the door, out of sight, for
easy access in an emergency.

By just adding this simple step to your lockup routine, it is possible to dramatically reduce
your chance of becoming a victim of burglary. Please ensure that your doors are
properly locked.

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