Leave the lights on?

[Susie]

Burglars are quite happy to enter occupied properties, the best thing you can do is to make sure your property has decent security in the first place.

[Ollie]

Originally Posted by agrumpycow

Ours are trained to stay downstairs but I'm not wholly convinced they stick to that when they're on their own
And as for the grooming - £50 every 2 months I even bought my own clippers, clipped them once but now they still go to the groomers while the clippers are used to cut the hubby's hair

Very much like ours. I clipped both ours one day while the wife was at work. Never again, the Poodle looked that bad we were ashamed to walk down the street with it. We found a very good groomer who comes to the house every two months and charges £40 for the two. Of course we bath and groom them ready for her the evening before she is due.
Roger

[Fourwings]

Originally Posted by Susie

Burglars are quite happy to enter occupied properties, the best thing you can do is to make sure your property has decent security in the first place.

Although the entering of propertys by intruders/burglars does occur it is still far less likely to occur than the entering of empty houses.
You are absolutely spot on with what you say Susie, there is no substitute for thinking about making your property as secure as possible.

Installing basic crime prevention measures can be compared to a hurdle race, if you put enough hurdles in the way of the potential burglar then they are far less likely to even attempt to run the race.

Leaving lights on does work, on timer switches is even better & if you do this consider putting a radio on the timer as well as the combination of light and sound from a property acts as an even greater deterant.
Dogs of course are a superb deterant, but don't restrict them to one room when you go out, give them the run of the house so no matter what window anyone looks through they are faced with a barking, growling dog.
It also goes without saying that you should instal good quality window and door locks, not only on the house but also on your garage & any other outbuildings etc..

One thing to keep in mind is to always take those few minutes to check that your home is secure before leaving to go out and just as importantly before retiring to bed at night, many a burglary has occured because doors or windows were left unsecured. Even if you are upstairs or out in the back garden in the the daytime, pop the lock on the front door and downstairs windows, it only takes a minute or two to do this, roughly about the same time it would take an intruder to enter and grab car keys purses etc.. that are quite often just left on tables, work tops or hanging on hooks behind doors !!

I dont wish to alarm anyone this is just a little food for thought.

[Susie]

Very true, Fourwings.

Buglars are, on the whole, opportunists (unless they know you have something particularly valueable in your property and target you directly). Therefore it makes sense to make your house more secure than those surrounding you.

There is a downside to your house being so secure though, we were locked out recently and then realised that it was nigh on impossible to break back into our house!!

[Jim Ford]

How about leaving a tin or two of dog food in clear view of a window? Maybe also a heavy chain dog lead!

Jim

[Kayleigh]

I got broken into when I lived in Derby I was looking after my mums dog I very large white German Shepherd..I was in bed.
The dog chased them out..Nothing was taken..

[Fourwings]

Originally Posted by Jim Ford

How about leaving a tin or two of dog food in clear view of a window? Maybe also a heavy chain dog lead!

Jim

Yes Jim, its certainly a good idea.
Of course there is a slight issue about the fact that if the pretend dog does not bark or growl then any likely intruder may percieve that the dog is not in the house and continue what they are doing.

Having said that it is still a good idea and is certainly going to contribute to the overall security of a dwelling.

[Fourwings]

Originally Posted by Kayleigh

I got broken into when I lived in Derby I was looking after my mums dog I very large white German Shepherd..I was in bed.
The dog chased them out..Nothing was taken..

Just goes to show, that dogs are an excellent form of security.
I'd pity the poor devil that tried to enter our house when we were not in, we have two dogs, both of which are quite happy to use their teeth on anyone who comes onto our property when we are not there.

[Jim Ford]

Originally Posted by Fourwings

Of course there is a slight issue about the fact that if the pretend dog does not bark or growl then any likely intruder may percieve that the dog is not in the house and continue what they are doing.

It may be more scary for a potential intruder to think that a big dog is silently waiting for them!

Jim

[Jim Ford]

Originally Posted by Fourwings

I'd pity the poor devil that tried to enter our house when we were not in, we have two dogs, both of which are quite happy to use their teeth on anyone who comes onto our property when we are not there.

There you go potential burglars, give Leicestershire a miss!

Jim