Businesses and homeowners alike might want to make sure they’re particularly vigilant when it comes to site security at this time of year, given new research revealing that Fridays in November are in fact when burglars are most likely to attempt break-ins.
Carried out by Co-op Insurance and Neighbourhood Watch, the study found that although one in three adults in the UK have been victimised by neighbourhood crime, one-fifth of these victims didn’t call the police.
Of those who didn’t contact the emergency services, 59 per cent this was because they weren’t convinced that the police would do anything about it, while 16 per cent said they didn’t trust the police to be able to help them.
And of those who did call the police, 58 per cent said they were visited by the police and 31 per cent were visited within an hour of the crime being reported.
It seems that there may be a possible lack of understanding about police response times, with calls made prioritised based on their severity. This will be why some receive an immediate response and others don’t require a police visit until hours after the fact – if at all.
The top ten home contents theft hotspots were revealed as being London, Carlisle, Manchester, Salisbury, Chelmsford, Slough, Bolton, Twickenham, Halifax and Dartford.
Commenting on the results, head of insurance at Co-op Insurance Colin Butler said: “Unfortunately, year on year, our claims data shows that darker nights lead to more burglaries. As the nights draw in, we’re urging people to be vigilant when it comes to their personal safety, as well as the safety of their home.
“Our report unlocks the real issues that people are facing in their neighbourhoods, as well as the long-lasting impact this type of crime can have on victims.”
What businesses can do to improve security
Investing in roller shutters can really help make your site more secure, particularly at this time of year. These can, of course, also be used to improve security in domestic properties as well.
For commercial premises, electric, manual and chain-operated shutters would all be appropriate, typically fitted on shops, workshop units, offices and commercial outlets to help protect your premises from thieves.
They’re made from galvanised steel, but can be powder coated to match your branding if you’re keen for a less industrial look and feel on site. Electric shutters can also be operated in numerous ways, either by a push button, a key switch or a remote control.
If you’d like to find out more about how roller shutters and similar could help make your home or business more secure, get in touch with us at Shield Roller Shutters today.