Safe as Houses

Safe as Houses

The figures appear pretty shocking in the cold light of day but the chances of getting burgled are actually down. Nationally there’s been a drop in burglary rates of 33% since 2005 –  a figure that jumps to 70% compared to the annual figure for 1995.

So what’s driven the reduction?

A combination of more effective policing, coupled with better design and innovations in home security have been key in making our homes more secure.

And innovation in window and door security has played no small part in delivering this change. Anecdotally, it appears no small coincidence that nationally crime has dropped by 70% since 1995.

The number of double-glazed doors and windows installed in in the UK increased exponentially between the early 1990s and early ‘noughties’. This, however, is more significant because of the innovation in window and door security that accompanied it.

This includes the shift to multi-point locking, the introduction of the ‘euro-cylinder’ as well as innovation in frames, to provide far more robust fixing of hardware. The problem is that technology, the world and the criminal fraternity moves on.

Euro cylinder locks, a cutting-edge security innovation in their day and installed widely from 2000, are now highly susceptible to attack. is either by bumping cylinder pins out of alignment with a specially designed but widely available key.

While low on finesse, a no less effective cylinder snapping method relies on brute force to snap older door cylinders. Some older PVC-U doors also have inherent vulnerabilities. A good kick can send panels flying and with it the security of your property.

And while burglaries may be in decline, it will be little solace to those 9049 households that reported burglaries in Hampshire last year, or the 401,718 police reported burglaries nationally.* This equates to around seven offences per 1000 people.

It gets worse. If all burglaries, reported and unreported figures are taken into account, there were 713,000 burglaries nationally – roughly 1.35 per minute! Home Office figures suggest burglaries costed an average of £2,300 per incident in 2000. Adjusted for inflation, that figure is nearer £3,600.

Choosing window and door designs with the right combination of security features is consequently really important in protecting your home from potential intruders.

All of our windows and doors feature the latest multi-point locking systems and robust hardware, delivering the highest levels of window and door security. For added peace of mind, we also offer a number of enhanced security options, including windows and doors endorsed by the UK Police, Secured by Design Scheme.

Our entry-level white PVC-U window for example, is packed with security features. This includes:

• 8-point locking (9 on larger sizes) providing the ultimate burglar deterrent.
• Heavy duty bolt has up to 300 per cent greater contact area against competitor shoot-bolts
• Tested by an independent test laboratory to over 6,000N force; more than double the requirement of the BSI 7950 security test.
• Developed to withstand even the most determined intruder
• Patented bolt into the keep docking system prevents sideways movement of the bolt when under attack
• Meets and exceeds all current building standards including Part Q.

Our front and back door composite door ranges are supplied to a UK Police approved Secured by Design specification as standard:

• Robust handles manufactured from stainless steel
• Cylinder guard system
• Anti-drill and anti-pick door lock cylinder
• Single piece door-keep and multi-point locking
• Local thickening of PVC-U frames to provide increase
• Steel reinforcement
• Meets and exceeds all current building standards including Part Q

These innovations in technology deliver a massive leap forward in home security. This new generation of doors and windows will also deliver other major advantages.

New energy efficient double and triple-glazed windows also deliver significantly improved performance over and single or even older double-glazed units, delivering savings of up to £200 per year dependent on specification.

Some earlier generation windows also don’t always deliver the best aesthetics. Replacing them now with high security windows and doors, will also give you the opportunity to redefine the appearance of your home, with timber windows or low maintenance foiled PVC windows.

Windows and doors are in the frontline of home security. Inevitably, older windows aren’t as effective at keeping criminals out as new high security windows and doors. These are part of an effective deterrent alongside burglar alarms, security lighting and more effective urban design, helping to keep your home and its contents safe.

For more information on high security windows and doors email [email protected] or call 01264 359355.

*Hampshire Constabulary Freedom of information request HC/002540/16.

*Office of National Statistics

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