What other options are there?

Burglar alarms and CCTV are extremely effective deterrents but a professional will also be able to advise you on many other security devices which can enhance the protection of your property.

Lighting

Security lighting will flood your driveway, your garden or the outside of your house with light whenever movement is detected.
Timers and lighting adaptors will give the illusion that someone is home by switching on and off lights, radios and TVs according to their settings. Most models can perform up to 25 on/off switches a day, including a random on/off facility, and a dusk/dawn facility.

Key-holding

Key holding is one step up from a basic alarm. Local service providers will check out your property within 30 minutes of the alarm going off. Nikaro offer this service for an annual fee of £375, plus £37 for the first hour of a call-out and £25 thereafter. Key Matters who are located in London, offer the same service plus they will check your car for £14.70 per month and call-out charges are £15 (8am to 6pm) and £25 (6pm to 8am).

Housesitters

If you are going to be away from your property for an extended period it might be worth looking into a housesitter as well. Companies such as Homesitters or Absentia supply vetted housesitters who are normally former police officers or retired couples who enjoy the extra cash and a holiday of sorts. The average price ranges from £30 to £40 per day, plus extra for the sitter's food and travel expenses. But it's worth shelling out the cash as the sitters will look after pets, can deal with unexpected surprises like a leak or electrical blackout, and cover you against sneaky insurance clauses that insist you cannot leave your home vacant for more than 28 days.

Safes

Finally if an intruder has managed to break in to your property safes offer one of the simplest solutions for safeguarding your valuables. Jewellery, cash and important documents can all be protected even while a thief is inside your home. Most models are manufactured in toughened steel to offer maximum security.

What else should I consider?

Fire

A fire can start very easily and can spread with frightening speed. The Government Fire Information body estimate that each year alone there are more than 68,000 fires in people's homes, resulting in 400 deaths and 13,800 injuries.

A security professional will be able to advise you on the best way of protecting you and your family from fire. Your local fire station will also be able to advise you if safety regulations should change in the future.

When you move into your new property, your first line of defence against fire should be to fit a smoke alarm. Smoke does not wake people up if they are asleep, it just sends them into a deeper sleep before eventually killing them. So it is important to have a fully functioning smoke alarm that can signal danger for you and your family.

What kind of smoke alarm should I get?

There are many models of smoke alarms and a trained security advisor or sales representative should be able to tailor the alarm to your property's particular needs. Whichever model you choose, however, make sure British Standard (BS) 5446 and preferably also carries the British Standard Kitemark or PCB Horseshoe mark.

Rented accommodation

If you are renting your new property then it's important to be aware that landlords do not always have a legal responsibility to fit a smoke alarm. They must however provide adequate escape routes incase of a fire and depending on the size of the property they may have to provide smoke alarms and fire extinguishers.