Security

It depends on the door. Timber and composite doors commonly use a British Standard mortice deadlock together with an automatic deadlocking rim lock, and both should be engaged when you leave. A uPVC multipoint door needs its handle lifted and its key turned and removed. Euro cylinders should meet TS007 with a 3 star rating or SS312, the Sold Secure Diamond standard. Locks guide ›

Police guidance lists four types: monitored, speech dialler, audible only and smart home security. An audible-only system sounds a siren or bell to frighten an intruder and alert neighbours or passers-by. A monitored system sends a signal to an Alarm Receiving Centre, which checks it, alerts a keyholder and, where the system is compliant, contacts the police. Alarms guide ›

Start with the area you want to cover and whether a camera, video doorbell or burglar alarm suits that job. Then check how the camera is powered, how it connects, where recordings are kept, whether a plan is required and what happens during power or broadband failures. Also find the manufacturer's security update period and change any default password before using the camera. Cameras guide ›

Call 999 if you think the intruder is still there. If the intruder has gone, Police Scotland advises calling 101 or completing its online reporting form. A break-in is still a crime even when nothing has been stolen. If you have just discovered the break-in, use a step-by-step after-break-in checklist to work through reporting, making the property safe and getting support. Burglary guide ›

Do not enter any information or download anything else. If you only clicked and provided no personal information, downloaded no files and installed no software, further action is unlikely to be needed, but watch your accounts for unusual activity. If you entered passwords, change them and change every other account using the same password. Contact your bank straight away if you entered banking or card details. Cyber guide ›

Police guidance says a 3 star TS007 euro cylinder protects against common attack methods including lock snapping, drilling and bumping. West Yorkshire Police also lists SS312, the Sold Secure Diamond standard, as an alternative. On an older aluminium patio, sliding or bi-fold door, a cylinder protruding beyond the handle should be changed by a Master Locksmiths Association member for a shorter, more snap-resistant one. Locks guide ›

No one is automatically notified by an unmonitored alarm. Police Scotland explains that you or a neighbour would have to establish what happened and call the police. The siren is intended to deter the burglar and draw attention from neighbours and passers-by. A monitored system instead sends its activation to an Alarm Receiving Centre for checking and further action. Alarms guide ›

Do not assume that it will. Smart cameras usually connect to the internet through home Wi-Fi, but that fact alone does not establish whether a particular model can continue recording. Check the manufacturer's instructions for the camera, any hub or recorder, and the storage arrangement. Check separately whether recording, movement alerts and remote viewing each work without an internet connection. Cameras guide ›