The Queensland Police Service has developed a home security assessment method to help keep communities safe.
The Layered Security Assessment is designed to assist homeowners and residents with their own approach to risk and risk management, and to introduce effective security measures.
Targeted security measures and changes in behaviour can have an impact on the reduction of break-ins.
There are four key principles of home security:
- Make it easy for an offender to be seen.
- Make it difficult for an offender to gain entry.
- Make it difficult for an offender to exit.
- Make it difficult for an offender to gain benefit from your property.
There are six layers to your home. These are assessed by starting from the outside and working towards the middle.
Layer one is the external perimeter. If an offender is easily seen trying to gain entry, this increases the risk of being caught. You can improve the visibility of your home by introducing CCTV and lighting, or modifying garden design.
Layer two is external walls and access. Lock your doors and put dowel behind your sliding windows. This delays the amount of time it takes for the offender to gain entry and increases the risk of them being seen.
Layer three is the internal walls. Deadlocks on doors and windows may make it difficult for an offender to easily exit, and they may be forced to exit through their entry point.
Layer four is the interior areas. This layer addresses user activity inside the home and includes the layout, CCTV, alarm system and mirror considerations.
Layer five regards your property. How easy is it for an offender to access your valuable property? Are the car keys sitting on the kitchen bench or out of sight?
After the theft, property may be identified through marking and taking photos, and recording serial numbers and model numbers.
Layer six is people. Is it your habit to lock doors and windows, dispose of personal documentation in a secure way and to report suspicious behaviour to Policelink or Crime Stoppers?
Only address the layers most appropriate to the circumstances.
Crime statistics in your area are available on the QPS webpage, and you can also access the Home Security Guide here.
These are only general guidelines for increasing home security. The QPS makes no representation nor gives any warrant or guarantee concerning the safety of person or property.
This column is compiled by the Sunshine Coast District Crime Prevention Unit.
If you have information for police, contact Policelink by providing information using the online suspicious activity form 24 hours a day at Queensland Police – Reporting.
Report crime information anonymously via Crime Stoppers. Call 1800 333 000 or report online at Crime Stoppers.
