It’s Dark Outside – How Can I Stay Safe?

We are staying Safe at night. It’s that time of year again when you come home from work, switch on the lights, pop the heating on and snuggle up with a nice hot cuppa for the evening. With the end of October marks the start of daylight saving, we see the nights getting darker much sooner and home security and personal safety becoming paramount.

Something about the timing of the clocks going back mixed with Halloween seems to make things slightly spookier than what it is.

Scary or not, your peace of mind is essential.

When it comes to personal safety:

• Make sure when you’re out, and about that, you have your phone in your pocket or handbag in emergencies.
• There are also personal alarm systems you can carry with you, even if it’s just to make you feel safer when walking alone.
• Try to avoid poorly lit places.
• If you are out and about, make sure someone knows your whereabouts.

At this time of year, we must be more safety conscious about our homes and vehicles.
For example, have you considered light timers? A lifesaver at this time of year. They stop houses from looking dark and empty, meaning you don’t come home to a dark place.

With one in five burglaries taking place through unsecured windows and doors, you need to ensure you keep them locked and that your locks are up to scratch.

They are making now the perfect time to get those unsecured or damaged locks replaced.

It’s also an excellent opportunity to get locks fitted to your sheds and garages – especially for those who are organized and have already started Christmas shopping and have your secret hiding places ready!

This leads to keeping things off the display. We’re all told not to keep valuables on display in our vehicles, and the same can be said for our homes. Ensure items like laptops, i-pads, etc., are put away and out of sight.

Most break-ins occur when things are within easy reach of open doors and windows, so keeping things locked away and out of sight also keeps them out of reach.

Finally, doorstep callers. We complain at the best of times when we’ve just sat down for the evening, and the doorbell goes, but in the winter, there is some safety advice to bear in mind:

• Always ask to see the ID
• Don’t invite anyone into your home without seeing their ID, knowing why they are calling or without a previously set appointment.
• If you have a door chain, consider using it.
• Consider a door peephole to see who’s calling before you open the door to them.

Of course, all of our trusted locksmiths at Tyne Tees Locks are fully qualified, CRB checked and vetted, and we have several customer testimonials to show how friendly and reliable Newcastle Locksmiths we are.

So, if you’re looking to be organized in the run-up to Christmas and would like a security check or locks replaced, call us today – we’ll offer a no-obligation quote and a 10% online discount!