Intelligent Security: strengthening protection for high value homes

While standard home security advice is widely known, there are additional steps that can make a real difference – especially for high value homes. In this article we highlight some lesser-known and often overlooked home security measures. This follows Ecclesiastical’s survey of 250 high net worth clients in which they found that 54% had experienced an increase in crime over the last year¹.

By raising awareness of these additional steps, we hope to help reduce the risk of burglary and the distress and inconvenience it can cause. Even small changes can make a meaningful difference in protecting your home, possessions, and peace of mind.

Open Source Intelligence: what burglars can learn about your home

Burglars are increasingly using open source information (publicly available online data) to identify and target properties. We recommend checking your digital footprint via a Google search and the following websites. Where possible, act to remove property listings, photographs and especially floorplans, which can reveal key entry points and layouts.

Key place to check include:

• Rightmove, Zoopla and similar sites
  Property listings often remain online long after a sale. While Rightmove appear to have made it harder to remove property’s details instructions are available here:
  Rightmove – how do I remove my record
  Zoopla – What are historic listings and can they be removed?
• The Estate Agent that sold your home
  We regularly find full listings, some with videos showing locks and access points, years after the sale of the property.
• Architects and builders
  If your home has undergone renovations, your architect or builder may be showcasing your property on their website, Pinterest, or Instagram.
• Companies House
  Reconsider using your home address as your business address. Your name and address are cross-referable. Consider switching you a registered office service.

Tom Tahany of Blackstone Security advises:

"Understanding permissions that are written into agreements with your contractors, be that architects, interior designers, estate agents or others with access to your home, is crucial. Though possible, having clauses around marketing and use of your imagery removed from agreements in advance is far simpler than retrospectively requesting organisations remove imagery from their website. We find that third party exposures are often one of the most significant areas of digital over exposure when we are assessing clients’ online footprints."

Sharing on Social Media

Post images of your holiday when you return, not whilst you’re away. And if you post whilst you’re on holiday, make sure that your social media profile is set to friends only. John Terry, former captain of the England men’s football team was targeted in 2017 and the Judge, whilst jailing the thieves commented:

“It might have been a mistake to post a family photograph on social media to show he was away on holiday. As a result, his home was deliberately targeted and the master bedroom suite was ransacked.”²

We also recommend that you check what your children are posting on their social media accounts i.e. Snapchat, Instagram and Facebook.

Intruder Alarms

Intruder alarms come in different grades and signalling type. If you’ve changed yours, please do check with your Insurer or Broker to ensure it still meets insurer requirements.

This is particularly true at the moment - given the nationwide switch to a fibre optic network and the imminent closure of BT Redcare on 15th December (revised from August). You can read more in our article: BT Redcare and home insurance

Most insurers won’t accept a Verisure or Simplisafe alarm as an alternative to an NSI or SSAIB approved system. So whilst these may be cheaper, they typically don’t meet insurer requirements.

If you already have an intruder alarm, consider upgrading it:

• If you have an audible-only, or “bells-only” alarm, consider a Central Station alarm that links to an Alarm Receiving Centre.
• If you already have a Central Station alarm, consider adding Police Response via a Unique Reference Number (URN).

Speak with your alarm company or, if you’re a Howden client, your Account Handler. You may benefit from a discount on your home insurance premium if you upgrade beyond your insurer’s minimum requirements.

Alarms should be set according to your insurer’s requirements, or when your home is unattended and at night. Not all mid and high net worth policies require alarms to be set, which we discuss that in this article.

If you’re unsure where your policy requires you to set your alarm, speak with your broker or insurer.

Smart Locks

If you use a “smart” lock – one that unlocks via Bluetooth or an NFC tag i.e. a mobile phone, it’s important to check whether it’s acceptable to your insurer. Many smart locks are not compliant, not necessarily due to hacking risks, but because they are often not morticed into the door, instead sitting “on” the door. Many models also lack the strength of a 5-lever mortice deadlock, and their bolts and receiving plates are not designed to withstand brute force attacks. Some can even be picked with relative ease.

That said, compliance does depend on several factors:

• The make and model of the lock
• Your home’s location
• The overall security set-up of your home

If you’re unsure, speak to your insurer, or, if you’re a Howden client, your Account Handler. They can advise whether your smart lock meets insurer standards and help avoid any issues with your cover.

Perimeter Security

If your alarm sounds it may already be too late to prevent damage or even a theft. That’s why it’s important to stop intruders before they reach your home. Start by taking an hour to review your physical security at the perimeter of your property: gates, walls and fences - particularly those leading to the rear of your home.

Ensure you have good quality locks where you can fit them and consider upgrading them to the latest TS007 3 star standard which are harder to pick open.

Tom Tahany of Blackstone Security advises:

“A strong security posture at the perimeter of your property is a crucial means of deterring criminality in the targeting phase. A judgement call will be made by criminals as to whether a property falls on the right or wrong side of the risk vs. reward trade off and security is central to this. Should your property appear more secure than others, criminals will usually target elsewhere unless the intrusion is directly targeted. Perimeter security also delays any intrusion and when an intrusion is detected through technical means, gives you and your family time to retreat to a safe place and trigger an emergency response. Being reliant on a single, stand alone security measure is not sufficient in deterring criminals, and private clients should considered a well thought out and layered approach to their property security to provide the best possible protection.”

For more advice on securing the perimeter of your property, see:

• Top security tips to protect your property
• Rural machinery and tools

Home Safes: installation and compliance

If you have a home safe, make sure that it’s been professionally installed by a reputable safe company, ideally in or behind an alarmed area. If you’re considering a new safe, we recommend purchasing it from one of our recommended suppliers rather than online.

We’re seeing a rise in the theft of home safes, some due to poor installation. Despite their weight, safes are being removed from homes, sometimes causing significant damage to the building.

Mike Cripps from TSI Security says:

“Any safe with a weight of less than 1000kg needs to be fixed professionally. It’s important that the correct fixing bolts are used. Homes with underfloor heating, or those who choose to place their safe in a basement which has had water tanking carried out, may need another method like industrial bonding.
Sometimes rear fixing a safe to a solid wall can be carried out, also the use of a bespoke steel or concrete plinth can help gain a stronger fixing. However, always consult with a recognised and established safe & vault company or speak to your insurance broker who may have companies they can recommend.”

Safes vary in size, rating and price, which you can read more about in our article: What are the different grades of safe

Jenny Cooper, Director at Insafe advises:

“Insurance approved safes are independently tested and certified by recognised security authorities to European standard (EN1143-1). This certification confirms that a safe meets strict standards for burglary resistance, giving you and your insurer the confidence in its ability to withstand attempted theft or attack”.

It’s worth investing in a higher grade safe than required by your insurer - so that it’s future proofed against new jewellery purchases. The cost different between safe grades is not significantly higher and an unrated safe may pose more risk than no safe at all – essentially offering thieves a removable box of high value items.

We’d typically recommend upgrading to a Grade 1 safe. A good safe may also lower your insurance premium, especially when combined with a floating limit.

If you’re unsure whether your safe is adequate, or if you’re thinking of replacing it, then contact our Private Client team or, if your Howden client, speak to your Account Handler.

How Howden can help

Prevention is better than cure and unfortunately the only real test of your insurance is in the event of a loss. Inadequate protection can make an already distressing situation even more disruptive.

That’s why we work proactively with clients to minimise the chances of a claim. We’re here to help you reduce the likelihood of a burglary or loss through advice, access to trusted security partners, and guidance on insurer compliant upgrades.

At the same time, we ensure that your insurance policy is robust and aligned with your lifestyle and assets.

And if the worst does happen, you’ll have the full support of our dedicated Private Client claims team, ready to help you recover quickly and smoothly in the event of a loss.

If you’d like to speak to us about your home insurance call 020 8256 4901 or email privateclients@howdeninsurance.co.uk

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Helpful websites and contacts

• www.ecclesiastical.com/media-centre/crime-concerns-drive-purchases-of-copies/
• www.ecclesiastical.com/risk-management/hnw-property-protection/
• info@blackstoneconsultancy.com
• www.blackstoneconsultancy.com
• www.tsisecurity.co.uk/private-clients/
• Jenny.Cooper@insafe.co.uk

Sources

1. Insurance Today
2. Daily Mail