Burglars are opportunistic and will seek out any opening possible, whether that's a door, window, garage or shed. Understanding which areas of your home burglars most commonly target will help you create a fool-proof home protection plan that even the savviest intruder can't outsmart!

Daytime or nighttime?

Despite our preconceptions of burglars roaming around in the dark, a large percentage of break-ins actually happen during the day between 9 am and 5 pm. Think about it - during the day, you're at work, the kids are at school and the neighbours are probably out for the day too.

While you might be thinking - "who in their right mind would rob a house in daylight?" It's actually a lot less suspicious for someone to be approaching or roaming around your house during the day.

They could be a maintenance worker, a delivery driver or even a friend who's popping over to let the dog out. Some burglars have even been known to turn up in a disguise or with dog treats at the ready to make entering someone's home as easy as possible!

How do burglars get in? 

Most burglars are not criminal masterminds and they want to get in and out of your property as quickly and easily as possible. For that reason, they'll target the most accessible points first! So, where do burglars enter? 

Doors

First things first, they'll try your front door or the back door to see if they've been left unlocked. If either of them is open they've got easy access to your home and can slip inside without looking suspicious at all.

First-floor windows

If the doors are locked, they'll usually look for downstairs windows that are slightly ajar. They might go around the back of the house to make sure neighbours and passers-by don't see them.

Garages

Unsurprisingly, garages are a popular target for burglars. Homeowners frequently forget to lock their garages, and if a burglar can make their way inside, they can grab a few valuable items like lawnmowers, power washers and tools with little trouble.

Sheds and outhouses

Burglars aren't good at walking away from places empty-handed. So, if they can't get into your house they might try and break-in to sheds or outhouses in your garden. Homeowners sometimes store bikes and other valuable items in there, even though the security of these spaces tends to be poor.

Signs that you're away from home

When choosing a property to burgle, they'll look for obvious signs that the home is empty. This includes things like:

• Parcels or letters that haven't been picked up
• Bins left out for collection
• Gardens that haven't been looked after
• Social media posts stating that people are on holiday/away from home
• Homes without security measures in place

Protecting your home

So, now that you know how burglars enter properties, and the signs they lookout for, you can think about the best way to protect your home. Here at IDS Security, we offer a comprehensive range of home security systems to help prevent burglaries and keep your home secure.

One of the simplest additions you can make to your home to prevent burglaries is an intruder alarm. These will alert passers-by and (with our maintenance contracts) can be monitored around the clock!

For added protection, you could incorporate a CCTV or door entry system. These will give you peace of mind that you can see and control who has access to your home even when you're away. Having a home security system installed is also a great way to deter burglars in the first place!

Read More: Home Security Tips

If you want to improve your home security, speak to our expert engineers. We can help you design a bespoke home security system that covers all of your house's vulnerable areas.

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Just like any other security solution, access control systems such as door entry controls may stop working from time to time. When this does happen, it can cause a potentially huge problem, especially if the access control system is installed at a workplace.

As a result, access control systems require regular maintenance to ensure they are fully operational and that any possible problems can be spotted and rectified as soon as possible. But who conducts the maintenance and what do they actually do? 

IDS Security Systems are here to explain...

Who carries out access control maintenance?

The majority of the time, the security company that installs your access control system will be the ones responsible for its maintenance. For example, if you were to get a door entry system installed by us here at IDS, we would cover all aspects of the system, which includes regular maintenance.

It is possible to get a third party to conduct maintenance but it makes more sense to get the installing company to carry it out as they will have knowledge and experience of the system which makes the maintenance of it more effective. 

Often, when you get a new security system installed by a professional company, you can sign a maintenance contract which involves regularly scheduled maintenance of the system. This will ensure that your access control solution is in tip-top shape at all times and if there were to be any issues, they can get sorted quickly.

What does an access control maintenance contract cover?

If you're wondering what does an access control system maintenance contract cover, here is a list:

• Details of the various parts of the system that will be maintained 
• The frequency of maintenance 
• The costs of any work conducted 
• Contact details 
• Costs of call outs and emergency work 
• Parts of the access control system that will not be covered 

If you would like more information on what exactly is covered during a maintenance inspection, we recommend asking for a checklist. Here, you can see exactly what is being carried out during the maintenance process.

Access control maintenance checklist

A typical access control maintenance checklist will include the following:

• Batteries being checked 
• System cleaned down 
• Ensuring all physical components are in full working order 
• Power supply checks
• Performance analysis 
• Full system test 

How can IDS help you?

Here at IDS Security Systems, with offer comprehensive security packages that include both the installation and maintenance of your access control systems. This is conducted by trained, experienced professionals that understand these systems inside and out, so are capable of identifying any potential issues quickly and efficiently. This allows security solutions such as door entry systems to be fully operational during the times they are needed most. 

To learn more about the access control systems that we offer, be sure to visit our access control page below. You can scroll down to the bottom to find the FAQ section where we answer all of the common questions that you may have.

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If you think you require more information on our access control maintenance, please do not hesitate to get in touch with a member of the IDS team today - our helpful and friendly team are always on-hand to help.

No two properties are the same and, as such, no two properties have the same security requirements. One of the problems with off-the-shelf security systems is that they don't always offer maximum protection. As a property owner, you really need a bespoke security system that covers all of your security needs.

Designing your bespoke security system

Here at IDS, we've worked with businesses and homeowners throughout England and Wales and we've never installed two security systems that are the same!

Our process for designing a bespoke security system starts with a FREE Security Survey. During your survey, one of our experienced engineers will talk to you about your security system needs. Some people require a fairly simple bespoke alarm system, while others need a more complex system that includes CCTV, access control systems and even thermal screening.

If you're unsure what security systems you need in your bespoke package, our engineers will be able to talk through your concerns and assess your property to make the best recommendations for you.

Bespoke security systems for homeowners

A typical home security system might include some or all of the following:

• Fire alarms
• CCTV cameras
• Door entry systems (for flats and apartments)
• Intruder alarms

When designing your bespoke home security system, we'll look at the layout of your home and areas that might be susceptible to burglary etc. We'll make sure that your security system leaves you feeling safe and protected, even when you're not at home by setting up remote CCTV viewing on your mobile phone!

Whatever your home security needs, we've got you covered. Find out more about our home security systems by clicking the button below:

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Bespoke security systems for business owners

For business owners, our bespoke security system services really do come in handy. Commercial properties are wildly different, and whether you're looking for better security for your shop or a place of work, we can help!

Some of our most popular commercial security systems include:

• Security barriers
• Access control systems
• CCTV
• Fire alarms
• Thermal screening
• Density control

During the COVID-19 pandemic, we've been inundated with requests for bespoke security systems to help ensure commercial properties are safe and protected. 

Our thermal screening and density control systems can be combined to help monitor people coming in and out of your business premises. This is particularly beneficial for busy workplaces or customer-facing businesses that are exposed to new visitors on a regular basis.

Read More: How to Make Your Business Safe for Christmas Shoppers 2020

While installing these new systems, our engineers can also incorporate a range of new and improved security systems into your business such as new key fobs or improved CCTV.  If you're ready to give your business an upgrade, let us help you create a bespoke security system for your business.

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If you have any further questions about our bespoke security systems, don't hesitate to get in touch. We look forward to hearing from you!

Did you know that more burglaries are committed during the winter months than during the summer? Insurance companies experience peak claims every year during the winter as burglars take advantage of the earlier nights and homeowners going away on holiday to warmer climates. Despite this fact, many homeowners still neglect their home's security measures during the latter parts of the year and are experiencing the unfortunate event of having their properties being broken into.

To prevent this from happening, homeowners can implement some simple security tips that increase the protection of their home during the winter, preventing intruders from targeting their property. If you are concerned about your home being broken into and would like to find out how you can implement additional safety measures, read on to see how IDS Security Systems can help!

More...

CCTV systems are a common part of everyday life. They can be seen in the streets, outside people's homes and in most shops and supermarkets. They keep a watchful eye over us and make it easy to identify perpetrators when a crime has been committed. 

As with all modern technologies, there was a time when our society existed without CCTV (can you imagine!) In fact, the CCTV camera as we know it has only really existed for the last 80-100 years. Let's delve into the history of CCTV to see where it originated and what it was used for. 

The first mechanical CCTV system

The first recorded CCTV system was created by the famous Russian inventor, Léon Theremin in 1927. The system was, as you can imagine, fairly simple and consisted of a manually-operated camera that sent images through a wireless shortwave transmitter and receiver, with a resolution of only 100 lines. 

This CCTV system was quickly recognised as something that could prove very useful to the Russian state and was shown to Joseph Stalin, Semyon Budyonny and Sergo Ordzhonikidze. Once they saw its potential, they requested that this rudimentary CCTV system be installed around the courtyard of the Moscow Kremlin so that security could monitor visitors.

CCTV in WW2

Another example of early CCTV was used by Germany to observe the launch of V-2 rockets in 1942. This CCTV system was created by an electrical engineer called Walter Bruch who was one of the pioneers of German television. This CCTV system was very successful and got people thinking about different ways this technology could be used. 

Commercial CCTV

Commercial CCTV systems didn't hit the market in the United States until 1949. The earliest known commercial CCTV system was called Vericon. Sadly, few records remain to explain what Vericon was, how it worked, or what it was used for. We do know that it was advertised as 'not requiring a government permit' which made it easily accessible to home and business owners for the first time. 

CCTV in the streets

CCTV was being sold commercially, so you'd think it would've exploded onto our streets and into public areas... but this wasn't really the case. The MET trialled a CCTV system in the streets in July 1960 to oversee the arrival of the Thai royal family. Throughout the 60s, different cities across the country including Leeds and Liverpool installed CCTV systems to see if they could make public spaces safer. These trials showed that the idea of having CCTV systems everywhere at the time was unrealistic because it would cost too much to wire it in. 

Widespread CCTV

During the 70s and 80s, CCTV became cheaper and easier to install, so high-risk establishments like shopping stores and banks began to use them. Later, in the 1980s, local authorities began installing CCTV on roads and in streets. Nowadays, CCTV can be found just about everywhere!

READ MORE: How Does CCTV Work?

IDS Security

Here at IDS Security, we have been installing CCTV systems for more than twenty years! We use the most modern technologies on the market and we're specialists in the design, installation and maintenance of bespoke CCTV systems. We work with home and business owners to keep their properties safe. Learn more about our CCTV Systems here:

CCTV Systems >

If you have any questions about our CCTV systems or any of the other security systems we offer, give us a call on 029 20 753 251.