Neighbourhood Watch Crime & Community Survey

Posted on 15/03/202415/03/2024 by PFS Team

A survey, conducted by Neighbourhood Watch and SimpliSafe Home Security, has revealed the extent of the public’s concerns about their security.

The survey, which took place from October – November 2023 and collected almost 29,000 responses across England and Wales, shows a majority of people believe crime levels in their area have either increased or remained stable. Only 2% of those polled believe crime has decreased in their area.

The results also show that a home burglary is the second most common crime people worry about, with criminal damage to their property coming in seventh.

Perhaps the most worrying statistic is that 37% of people have been a victim of, or witnessed, a crime in the previous 12 months. Regionally, this was highest in Greater London, the North East, and West Midlands; and lowest in the South West, East of England, and the South East.

Some other findings include:

27% of those surveyed lacked a feeling of safety, with 4% of those feeling “very unsafe”
Antisocial behaviour, burglary, and cybercrime, are the three crimes people are most worried about
Over half of under 44’s said they had experienced a crime, compared to just over a quarter of over 65’s
46% of those who had experienced a crime either didn’t report it to the police, or stopped before completing the report.
The most common reason for this was the feeling that nothing would be done

Thankfully there are steps you can take to reduce the risk of crime to you or your property. Visual deterrents such as intruder alarm bellboxes, CCTV cameras and security lighting can make your property less appealing to criminals. Good security practices such as locking windows and doors when you go out, or not leaving valuables on show, will also help reduce the likelihood of a break in.

Another worthwhile step is joining a community-based group such as Neighbourhood Watch. With a burglary taking place in the UK approximately every 106 seconds, prevention is a key focus. You can find out how to join, as well as the benefits membership provides, HERE

Should you wish to discuss any aspect of your home or business security with one of our team of experts, or to book in a free, no-obligation survey at your property, get in touch with PFS via our contact form HERE

The full Crime and Community survey can be found HERE

Keep Your Home Safe This Winter

Posted on 28/11/202307/02/2024 by PFS Team

As the dark evenings draw in it’s more important than ever to ensure your home is safe and secure from intruders looking to take advantage of unoccupied properties. Follow our top tips to help protect your home this winter:

Always set your alarm system when leaving home, and make sure to keep it serviced (annually, or twice-annually for monitored systems)
Close curtains as soon as it gets dark to conceal valuables inside
Invest in security lighting to deter burglars
Never leave spare keys outside or hidden nearby. Instead, give them to a trusted neighbour, friend or relative
Double check all doors and windows are locked before leaving the house. Don’t leave keys in the locks where they could be fished out
Avoid posting holiday plans on social media. Opportunistic thieves use this info to target empty homes
Install locked gates and high fences/walls to restrict access to the back and sides of your property
Use timer switches on your lights to make it look like someone’s home even when the house is empty
Keep Christmas presents and other high-value items out of sight of windows to avoid tempting thieves

Following basic security best practices will help minimise the risk of a break-in this winter. To discuss your home security in further detail, contact PFS today.

Critical Upgrade Programme

Posted on 10/02/202313/03/2023 by PFS Team

BT is currently replacing its entire copper telephone network with fibre.

As many of our customers’ security systems rely on the existing network, BT’s programme of works will prevent the systems’ alarm signals from reaching the central station. PFS have therefore introduced a Critical Upgrade Programme that will facilitate the upgrade of our customers’ alarm signalling to either a wireless dual radio product or an IP solution.

Working in conjunction with CSL DualCom, a highly reputable UK signalling provider that provides a cost-effective GPRS and IP solution, PFS has formed a dedicated engineering and back-office team to help deliver the required communication unit before it is too late. With vast numbers of end users affected, and timely constraints imposed, PFS will do its best to fulfill the demand on time.

This critical upgrade will take place automatically on your next maintenance visit. Please inform your insurance company that your current system is being replaced. Should the replacement of the current communicator not be possible due to site-specific reasons, our engineer will discuss further options with you.

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FAQs

Rural Crime

Posted on 04/01/202313/03/2023 by PFS Team

Despite a decrease in recent years, rural crime was once again on the rise last year.

Farm vehicles and machinery, fuel, and even livestock, are all targets for thieves – crimes that cost tens of millions every year.

PFS Security Systems Ltd can help protect your property. From our CCTV and intruder alarm systems, to our access control and gate automation solutions, we can help protect Wiltshire this winter.

Tel: 01793 642 792
Email: sales@pfssecurity.co.uk

Black Friday

Posted on 25/11/202213/03/2023 by PFS Team

Today is Black Friday and while many of us will be picking up bargains and shopping for Christmas presents, cyber criminals will be busy trying to take advantage with scams and phising attempts.

To help combat this, the NCSC has published this handy guide for shopping safely online:

https://www.ncsc.gov.uk/guidance/shopping-online-securely

Always remember to be Cyber Aware!

Winter Security Tips

Posted on 01/11/202213/03/2023 by PFS Team

Following reports of several local break-ins this past week, we thought now would be a good time to repost our tips for keeping your premises secure over the winter period:

Make sure all doors and windows are closed and locked securely when you go out, as these are the main entry points for burglars. Remember to take keys out of the lock afterwards so there’s no way of anyone getting to them.
Avoid posting on social media about going away over Christmas. People can use this information to find out when your home will be unoccupied.
Never leave spare keys outside your home, even if you think they are well hidden. Always leave them with a trusted neighbour, relative or friend.
Draw your curtains early now the afternoons are getting darker – you never know who might be looking in to see what valuables you have.
Keep expensive items out of sight. Don’t leave wrapped Christmas gifts where they are visible to passers by, and make sure to not leave mobile phones, laptops etc near windows where they can be seen.
Consider using timers on your lights when you’re out. Lights turning on and off give the impression that someone is home.
Visible burglar alarms and good security lights are very useful for deterring would-be thieves. Dummy alarm systems may seem more economical, but experienced burglars will know the difference between a high-quality alarm system and a fake.
Make sure your alarm system is always set before you leave home, and don’t forget to ensure it is serviced annually (or twice annually if it’s a monitored alarm).
Prevent easy access to the back and sides of your property by installing locked gates and, if possible, high fencing or walls.
Sign up to your local Neighbourhood Watch. You can find your local scheme at the following link: https://www.ourwatch.org.uk/get-involved/find-my-local-scheme

If you would like to discuss your home security in more detail, contact us today:

Tel: 01793 642 792
Email: sales@pfssecurity.co.uk

Improving The Security Of Your Building

Posted on 09/06/202213/03/2023 by PFS Team

For the past few years, the U.K. has enjoyed a steady decline in the crime rate. However, this has evidently come to an end, with the Office for National Statistics recently releasing data that shows the biggest jump in crime in a decade. “The latest figures show the largest annual rise in crimes recorded by the police in a decade,” commented John Flatley, crime statistician and analyst at the Office for National Statistics. “While ongoing improvements to recording practices are driving this volume rise, we believe actual increases in crime are also a factor in a number of categories.” These statistics suggest it has never been more important for you to ensure your home or office is safe and secure from intruders. Here are a few simple things you can do to improve the security of your building:

Install a Surveillance System

CCTV technology has dropped in price significantly over the years to the point where it’s affordable for just about every consumer and business. Here at PFS Security Systems Ltd, we’re proud to offer an extensive range of simple to use CCTV systems that provide you with unparalleled oversight of your property.

Store Expensive Items Out of Sight

High-ticket items in line of sight of a vulnerable window are very tempting to opportunist burglars. If you live on the ground floor or in an area with a lot of foot traffic, you can improve the security of your building by storing expensive items such as jewellery, artwork and portable electronics out of sight.

Install an Intruder Alarm

Few things are as effective at deterring would-be thieves as a professional intruder alarm. We’re able to install a variety of intruder alarms and detection units that include 24 hour monitoring and police response services throughout many parts of England. We’ll work with you to design and implement a security system that works best for your property.

Join or Form a Neighbourhood Watch Group

Cutting edge security technology can play an important role in improving the security of your building, but don’t forget about the power of community. An active Neighbourhood Watch group can be a very effective way of increasing security, bringing the community together and reducing crime in your local area.

Increase Outdoor Lighting

It should go without saying that criminals like to stick to the shadows where they can’t be seen. Flush them out of the darkness with some bright outdoor lighting positioned in such a way that it shines on your property’s most vulnerable areas. Here at PFS Security Systems Ltd, we’ve been in the business of securing homes and offices since 1989. With a focus on personable customer service and industry-leading alarm and surveillance systems, we’re the number one choice of security system providers in the Swindon and Oxford areas. Give us a call today and have a chat with one of our specialists about how we can improve the security of your building.

Three Effective Ways to Improve Your Business’s Security

Posted on 02/04/202213/03/2023 by PFS Team

Here at PFS Security Systems we offer a number of solutions that will help you keep your business secure. Crime is on the rise in many parts of the UK, and it is often business premises that are the target if burglaries and vandalism. If there are weaknesses in your security, it may only be a matter of time before the criminals take advantage of this. Here are just three options that you might like to consider for improving the security of your property:

Access Control Solutions

One of the keys to keeping your business safe is to closely control the people who have access to your property. There are a number of viable options for how you can do this. If you always have somebody at the front desk, a good option might be to install a door entry intercom system. On the other hand, if you have people coming at all times of the day or night, a much better option could be to use smart card technology. PFS Security Systems can provide many different access control solutions, and we will be happy to help you find the option that will work best for you.

CCTV

A CCTV solution can mean that you will have every sensitive part of your premises monitored. It is even possible to create 360 degree coverage. Just having CCTV in place will be enough to deter most criminals. Us here at PFS Security Systems can not only install CCTV for you, but we can also arrange for remote viewing so that you can keep an eye on your property no matter where you are in the world. CCTV can work particularly well when it is combined with other security measures. We will be able provide something suitable for both manned and unmanned sites.

Intruder Alarms

There are many different types of intruder alarm, and there will be something to suit the needs of every kind of business. There are also a range of alarms to suit different budgets. The most important factor with any intruder alarm is that it is reliable, and we only ever deal with quality products. We will also be able to provide twenty-four hour monitoring to ensure that if the intruder alarm is triggered, it will be dealt with. Our team is committed to providing you with the alarm system that will best suit your needs, and the needs of your business. PFS Security Solutions is ready to help you make your property more secure. Contact us right now to find out about the security options that will work best for your business premises.

The Security Benefits Of Using Access Control

Posted on 17/03/202213/03/2023 by PFS Team

Your business or workplace environment is only as secure as you make it; with confidential information such as legal, financial and personal data stored on site, there are times when access is best restricted to ward off prying eyes. Whether on paper and held in filing cabinets, on computers or across network servers, at PFS Security Systems we can make sure you have an elite security system in place, so your privacy and professional integrity are always kept protected and intact.

Access Control Benefits

As business owner, there are always areas of your premises that you want to restrict – whether it’s for safety or security reasons. By using one of our access control solutions, you have the ability to protect those areas, and prevent staff or visitors from entering areas or rooms which they are not cleared to be in, whether intentional or unintentional in motive. There are many positive benefits to gain from having an access control solution installed in your business. Using a choice of modern keypads or key card entry systems, traditional ‘lock and key’ security systems might well be considered a thing of the past. Without needing to have keys cut or the expense of having locks changed in case of a security breach, you can instead control access by disabling key cards if lost or stolen, or limit access to particular areas with a new code or password. With the right access control solution in your business, your property, not to mention your staff and customers, will be safer. We have a selection of door entry systems for you to choose from. Whether using smart card technology to allow physical access to designated facilities or a simple single door system with intercom service, security is discrete and reliable, at the touch of a button.

Business Security Solutions

Keeping your business safe and protected is our purpose and priority at PFS Security Systems. We specialise in business and home security, and can also supply and install CCTV surveillance systems and burglar alarms to meet your requirements. If you would like to see about having your work premises made more secure, please phone us at our head office on 01793 642 792. We can also be conveniently contacted via our online contact form. Being in business is all about taking the correct safety measures, so ask for a free quote or assessment from one of our security advisers today.

What Are The Costs Of Not Having Property Alarms?

Posted on 14/03/202213/03/2023 by PFS Team

Installing an alarm system at your property is going to involve a little bit of financial investment initially, yet this is money is well spent when you consider the cost of not having this level of protection in place. Detailed below are some of the issues that can arise if an alarm system is not installed at your premises:

Lack of a Property Alarm Leads to Worry

If your property is not properly secured, you will have good reason to worry. Criminals are always on the lookout for opportunities, and they are highly skilled when it comes to exploiting security weaknesses. A lack of an alarm has the potential to lead to stress and worry, and could even lead to some sleepless nights.

Lack of a Property Alarm Means Loss of Privacy

If you do not take your own security seriously, you shouldn’t be too surprised to find that other people don’t respect it either. As a result, this could mean that complete strangers decide to treat your private property as if it were a public building – especially when it comes to commercial premises. By installing an alarm system, you make it clear that your property is private.

The Financial Cost of Stolen Belongings Can be High

If any criminals manage to gain access to your property, there is a good chance that a number of your belongings will be stolen. It is often the case that we only realise the value of our assets after they have been stolen and whilst some items may be easy to replace after a burglary, there are also likely to be some things that require a considerable financial outlay to replace.

Lack of a Property Alarm Can Mean Higher Insurance Costs

The cost of property insurance is based on the level of risk involved, so the lack of a quality alarm system is going to be a concern for any insurance company. If the insurance company decides that your property is at high risk of burglary as a result there being no alarm system in place, this is likely to mean the cost of your premium will be high. The cost of not having a quality property alarm in place is excessive, yet by choosing one of our systems here at PFS Security Systems, you will have the level of protection you need. This is an investment that provides a guaranteed return because it brings benefits from the moment it is installed. Contact us now so we can discuss your security needs.