Fact sheet: Preventing burglaries from homes

Having your home broken into can:

• result in financial cost to repair and replace property, and
• significantly impact how safe you feel at home.

However, we can all play a proactive role in making our home and community safer.

Here are some tips for making your home safer:

• make sure your door and window locks work properly and meet Australian standards
• always lock doors and windows when you leave the house, or if you are away from entry points, on the phone or in the garden
• do not leave keys in an easily available location. Leave spare keys with a trusted friend or neighbour
• consider a safe if you have jewellery or other items of value to you
• if you like pets, consider getting a dog
• fit an alarm system that covers all external doors, windows and garages. It should meet Australian alarm standards for domestic purposes
• keep trees and shrubs trimmed to allow a clear view of your house from the street
• lock tools in a garden shed or garage
• consider installing sensor lighting in your yard
• if you purchase expensive items such as a new TV, cut up the box before recycling. Boxes left on the nature strip can let burglars know what is new in your house
• back-up computer hard drives and keep these copies in a different location to prevent the loss of information on your computer
• mark your property using an engraver or ultra-violet markers, with a 'V' (for Victoria) followed by your licence number. These markers are available to buy from various electrical stores. Marked property is much harder for burglars to resell
• join Neighbourhood Watch and be an active part of crime prevention in your community.

In the event of a burglary

If you require immediate police attendance, call police on Triple Zero (000)

If you are a victim of burglary call the Police Assistance Line on 131 444 and make a report.

If you have any information regarding a crime, call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

The safety of yourself and others is more important than trying to prevent a burglary.