As much as we don’t want to admit it, the crime rate in the UK is rising. Most domestic burglaries in the UK happen during the summer months when we leave our windows and doors open to let in fresh air. Approximately 67% of burglars break in through a door, and 29% break in through a window. Now that we have entered Summer, and with Lockdown restrictions on travel lifting, many of us are considering leaving our homes to finally travel abroad for our Summer holidays. This leaves our homes especially vulnerable as 43% of the time, burglars know their victims and wait for them to leave before they strike.
Looking at the facts and figures can be daunting, but there are simple measures you can take to protect your home from would-be intruders. Unsurprisingly, 63% of burglaries happen in homes without a basic security system. Most burglars closely monitor their target home to assess the situation and plan accordingly. Installing deterrent measures such as detectors, lighting, security locks, audible alerts and CCTV systems will reduce the temptation to burgle your property as there is a greater likelihood of being caught.
Setting up a simple intruder detection system does not have to be costly or difficult to install. Using EasySwitch wireless PIR detectors, receivers and bleepers, you can deter malicious intruders from your property quickly and easily.
Using Automatic Lighting As A Deterrent
Your first point of call when setting up an intruder deterrent should be the use of automatically activated lighting around your property. This is easily achieved using an EasySwitch wireless PIR detector and an ESR.1 mains-powered receiver wired directly to a light.
First, you should choose the appropriate PIR detector to cover vulnerable areas. Our most versatile detector is the ESD.30, with a detection range of 30m x 20m that can be adjusted using the internal curtain to narrow the beam. The viewing angle can be adjusted covertly so that you cannot tell which angle the detector is looking at from the outside. Leaving the detector in ‘walk-test mode’ will cause it to flash red whenever it detects movement, allowing intruders to see that they have been detected. Alternatively, the ESD.1, ESD.2 and ESD.3 detectors can be used, and offer more specific detection patterns such as horizontal curtains and 40m narrow beam patterns. EasySwitch wireless PIR detectors are transmitter units, and will send signals to EasySwitch receivers once they have registered a valid detection.
Once you have chosen your detectors, you can pair them with an appropriate EasySwitch receiver. An ESR.1 mains-powered single-circuit receiver can be wired directly to a light. When the detector sends a signal to the receiver, the receiver will operate the light. The ESR.1 receiver can operate both outdoor and indoor lighting, and more than one receiver can be paired with a single detector.
When positioning the detectors, make sure to angle them away from anything that could potentially trigger a false detection. This includes moving foliage or areas where pets frequent. EasySwitch detectors are supplied with lens occluders so that you can mask areas of the lens to prevent it detecting high traffic areas.
Creating An Audible Alert To A Detection
58% of the time, domestic burglaries happen when someone is at home. A simple audible bleep can alert you to a detection from your PIR detectors and allow you to act accordingly. Pairing an ESD detector with an ESB.1 internal bleeper is quick and easy to do. The bleeper plugs into a UK mains socket and can be set to sound alerts during the day, during the night, or 24 hours.
The ESB.1 can be used in conjunction with other receivers so that in addition to signalling the audible alert, a detector can also signal an ESR.1 receiver to turn on, for example, a hallway light for an additional alert to a person around your property.
Automatically Triggering Home CCTV Systems
As a more comprehensive layer of security, you can use the EasySwitch system to activate home CCTV systems. PIR activated CCTV uses less electricity than systems which are recording 24/7, or systems that use AI to detect motion. PIR activated CCTV is also more reliable than simple motion detection, greatly reducing false alarms. If you live in a high risk area and leave your property on a regular basis, it might be a good idea to consider a simple, PIR activated CCTV system for your property.