Preventing burglary

Lock up

• Always lock up the house, even when you are home.
• Did you know? According to the WA Police, one in three burglaries involves someone climbing through an open window or walking through an unlocked door.²
• Install quality deadlocks on all external doors and your main door should have a peephole or locked security door.
• Key locks on your windows and security screens will allow you let the breeze in during the summer months.

Eliminate hiding places

• Cut back trees and shrubs to remove places where someone could hide.
• Consider lower or see-through fences as high fences may offer burglars good cover for their activities
• Install motion-activated lighting to help reveal what is happening outside at night.

Don't make it easy for burglars

• Avoid leaving spare keys outside the home in obvious locations, like under floor mats or flowerpots. It  may be better to leave the key with a trusted neighbour.
• Lock up tools, gardening equipment and ladders, as these can be used to gain access to your home.
• Keep equipment locked up after use as many thefts occur from sheds and garages.

Don't advertise

• Consider who you tell when you go away on holiday.
• Don't leave large boxes on the verge that shows you have recently bought new electrical goods.
• Avoid leaving notes on your door, as it announces to unexpected visitors that the house is unoccupied.

Warn would-be thieves

• Use window stickers to advise that there is an alarm system and that property is marked. 
• Dogs can deter burglars, according to the National Crime Prevention Programme. It cites an Australian study that found that three out of four burglars said the presence of a dog had put them off robbing a house.³

Be aware

• Make your house look occupied, leaving lights on at night if you are out.
• If you are going on holiday, use timers for lights and radios and be sure to cancel the newspaper and divert your mail or ask a neighbour to collect it for you. 
• Ask a neighbour to park in your driveway occasionally or have friends or family drop by to check on the property from time to time.
• Don't open your door or provide access to your house without knowing who is there.  Always check the identity of any charity collectors or salespeople.

Keep a record

• Keep an inventory and photographs of valuables. This can help recover them if they are stolen and will also assist should you need to lodge an insurance claim.

Property marking

• Mark your property to help recover goods if they are stolen and make it more difficult for burglars to sell on.

Get advice

RAC Home Security offers a free home security consultation service that will provide you with advice on the most suitable security products for your property. RAC Security products include alarms, alarm monitoring, security screens, locks, security film for windows and security cameras.

Call 1300 360 504 to talk to our Security Team Monday to Friday 8am - 6pm or visit RAC Security for useful information.

Get involved

• You can join Neighbourhood Watch online and receive regular emails from your local police about crime prevention and safety issues in your suburb. Join at nhw.wa.gov.au or call Neighbourhood Watch on 9356 0555.
• You can also learn more about home security at the WA Police website burglarbeware.wa.gov.au

Check your insurance cover

RAC Insurance recommends that you review your insurance regularly to make sure you have the right level of cover to suit your needs. Use our home contents calculator to estimate the value of your contents.

What are you covered for with RAC?

RAC Home and Contents Insurance offers ⁴:

• New for old cover on home contents, regardless of age
• Cover for furniture, carpets, household goods, appliances and gardening tools
• Cover for clothing, jewellery and precious items
• Cover for tools of trade
• Cover for glass and locks