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Getting Home Safe
How to keep your residence secure
| Text : Christina Kautzky | Photo : www.stockxpert.com |
As far as urban metropolises go, Hong Kong is a safe place to live. But burglaries can happen anywhere and any time. According to the Hong Kong Police Force (www.police.gov.hk), about HK$400 million worth of property is stolen in domestic burglaries each year. And unfortunately, most of these are inside jobs.
Last March, a female resident of Happy Valley hired workers to renovate her new apartment. With consent from the owner, they were free to come and go unsupervised. One evening, after the work had been completed, a workman returned to the block, was greeted by the doorman who he now knew by name, and broke into two apartments. Knowing they would be unoccupied, he easily took transportable valuables including jewellery and cash.
This story is typical, and shows how important home security is. And when it comes to responsibility, it doesn’t only fall on the building management, but also on individual residents.
There are a number of ways to improve security without going overboard. In a city as transient as Hong Kong, with residents often travelling for business or leisure, home security is an essential. Here are some tips for beating the burglars.
Last but not the least; homeowner’s insurance is a resident’s best friend. The cost of an annual premium will be nothing compared to the cost of replacing all of the valuables in a home.
Individual Responsibility
When considering home security, installing tried and tested door locks is the first thing that often comes to mind. Don’t go for knob or lever handle locks. They function with a spring and can easily be opened even without the keys. Choose a deadbolt or heavy-duty lock instead. These types of locks must be turned manually, making it far more difficult for a would-be burglar to break in. For those who want extra peace of mind, a door chain or fold-over lock at the top of the door ensures safety among families, particularly those with young children.
Windows are another common point of entry for intruders. Locking windows is a good start, but it is not entirely foolproof. An ideal way to prevent anyone from breaking a window and opening it from the inside is fitted window locks. Although window grilles can be unsightly, they can effectively prevent entry.
For those with valuable properties like artwork, antiques, jewellery or foreign currency, putting them in a safety box is advised. Furthermore, you may want to install a personal alarm system so they can be monitored by a third party.
When renovation is scheduled, make sure to supervise the workmen properly. Get the workers’ names and familiarise yourself with their faces. Never give a key to workmen, and let the doormen know when workers, delivery people or guests are coming into the apartment. Keeping the building staff in the loop could thwart attempt at stealing personal belongings.
The Building Management’s Responsibility
Many buildings in Hong Kong hire security guards and doormen, and install CCTV cameras. But these safety measures are only helpful when implemented properly. Security guards that watch television, doormen that fall asleep at night, and CCTV cameras that are not backed up on a hard drive will do nothing to prevent crime.
In larger buildings, parking garages and entry points by the pool, gym or other facilities are prime targets for burglars. With the number of tenants, on-site staff and the constant turnover of both, door codes for these access points should be changed frequently, especially when there are new doormen or security guards.
Security systems for parking garages help cut back on the number of unknown entrants to a building. One of the most effective ways to keep non-residents from gaining access to the building is registering cars and electronic passes. Likewise, visitor parking should be monitored and all guests should be accounted for prior to being allowed into the building’s lifts.
The Crime Prevention Bureau in Hong Kong provides a host of free services to buildings and individuals alike, including security surveys for a building or individual flat, security awareness programmes and practical advice on what to do to ensure domestic safety.
Meet the experts
Mr. Locksmith
Anything and everything
lock- and key-related
G/F, 14 Merlin Street
North Point, Hong Kong
2887 6638
ADT
Personal fire and security systems
www.adt-hk.com
2155 0222
Access Control Systems Limited
Parking and entry/exit security for buildings
www.acsl.com.hk
2729 4338
Crime Prevention Bureau
www.police.gov.hk/hkp-home/english/cpb/
Kwiksure
Home insurance quotes from a number of providers
www.kwiksure.com
In a nutshell:
Dos
● Make sure you have at least two sturdy locks on exterior doors
● Ensure balcony doors cannot be opened from the outside
● Get fitted window locks
● Encourage the building’s management to change door codes frequently
Don’ts
● Use hollow, wooden doors
● Let workers or delivery people have access to the building unsupervised
● Leave windows open; even small spaces could allow people to get in
● Hesitate to speak with neighbours or building management if you see anything suspicious or potentially detrimental to domestic security
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