Protecting Your Property: Understanding the Rise in Break-ins

• 44,211 reported cases of burglary/break and enter in 2024.
• Brisbane break-in rates increased to 1,072 incidents per 100,000 residents, surpassing the Queensland average of 971.
• Sunshine Coast break-in rates rose to 419 incidents per 100,000 residents.

Enhance Your Property's Security

1. Install quality lighting.

Adequate lighting around your property can make it less attractive to would-be intruders. They generally prefer working under the cover of darkness, so light it up! Consider motion-sensor lights to save electricity while still retaining efficacy. Also consider whether your security cameras have built-in spotlights.

2. Secure entry points.

Ensure all your doors are equipped with high quality locks. Consider the length of the screws in your striker or deadbolt plate. Standard short screws only secure the jamb. Use longer screws that extend through the door jamb and into the stud. This provides a stronger anchor point, making it much harder to kick in or pry open a door.

Also consider locks on your windows. Not to mention security screens on doors and windows for an even further layer of protection.

3. Maintain street visibility.

As in point 1., intruders prefer to work under the cover of darkness, so consider how exposed they might be to the street. Overgrown shrubs or other greenery can provide great cover, allowing them more time to find a way in. It's not always practical, and you may have a particular aesthetic at play, but consider the benefit it is to an intruder to be hidden from the road during a break-in.

4. Install security cameras.

Quite possibly the single most effective thing you can do is install visible security cameras with built-in active deterrence features. Read our blog post about why active deterrence is so effective here, but in short: not only do potential intruders prefer darkness, but they also prefer silence. Active deterrence cameras foil both of these. Surprise flashing lights and audible alarms will give them one heck of a jump scare, and after that you'll likely see them bolt.

5. Install an alarm system.

Consider installing a burglary alarm for inside your property. Primarily using motion sensors (but also door/window sensors and glass-break sensors), these are generally most effective as a last line of defense. If the intruder does manage to make it all the way inside your property, your alarm will be triggered, a 110dB siren will ring out and you'll be instantly alerted on your smartphone app.

Conclusion

The rise in break-ins across Queensland necessitates proactive security measures. Implementing strategies such as external lighting, secured entry points, visibility and electronic security systems can greatly increase the security level of your property and make a break-in much less likely. For residents and businesses in Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast, adopting these measures we've outlined here can provide peace of mind and protect your family and valuable assets.

Don't be afraid of reaching out to Covenant today if you want us to help you secure your property.