Practical Security - Securing Your Countryside Home.

Combining common sense, practical upgrades, and community awareness, you can dramatically reduce your risk...

Living in the countryside, particularly in the Home Counties and areas like Guildford, offers many benefits — peace, space, fresh air, and picturesque surroundings. But these very perks can also attract the wrong kind of attention. With high property values, expensive vehicles, and desirable tech on display, rural homes are increasingly becoming prime targets for criminals.

Unlike urban areas, where street lighting, high foot traffic, and police presence can deter crime, countryside homes often sit in relative isolation. Long driveways, hedgerows, and minimal lighting offer excellent cover for burglars. But that doesn’t mean homeowners are powerless — in fact, with a few well-placed measures, you can make your property a hard target and send opportunists elsewhere.

Think Like a Criminal

Start with a walk around your property at dusk or in the early hours. Ask yourself: if I were a burglar, where would I try to get in? Where are the blind spots? Are there sheds or side gates left unsecured? Do I appear to be an easy target?

Criminals look for properties where the risk of being seen, heard or caught is low. Your job is to increase all three.

Layered Security Works Best

Professional security isn't always about high-tech systems — it’s about layers. The more barriers a criminal has to get through, the less likely they’ll bother.

• Perimeter Control: Gates should be solid, ideally automated, and locked at all times. Add motion-triggered lighting and visible CCTV at key entrances.
• Boundaries: Trim hedges and trees that shield windows or entry points. While privacy is important, overgrown vegetation gives burglars cover.
• Physical Locks: All external doors should be solid core with BS3621-rated locks. French doors and bi-folds need added reinforcements like anti-lift devices or sash jammers.
• Windows: Lockable window handles and laminated glass are excellent deterrents. Ground floor windows should never be left open when unattended.

Lighting Is a Powerful Deterrent

Motion-activated lighting placed strategically around driveways, garages, and entry points is simple to install and highly effective. Criminals hate being visible. Modern LED floodlights with dusk-till-dawn sensors are low-cost to run and make a clear statement: “We’re watching.”

Technology Has Evolved — Use It Strategically

Smart home security systems have come a long way, and when used correctly, they don’t just record crime — they help prevent it.

• CCTV: Opt for a system that records to the cloud or a secure hard drive. Cameras should be placed visibly, covering all key access points, and mounted high enough to prevent tampering.
• Alarms: Ditch the outdated passive systems. A modern, monitored intruder alarm that alerts your mobile device or a response service is far more effective. But better yet...
• Integrated Services: When your CCTV, intruder alarms, and perimeter sensors are fully integrated and monitored by a reputable Alarm Receiving Centre (ARC) and security company, you move from being reactive to proactive. Trained operators can observe suspicious behaviour in real time and take swift action — whether that’s issuing live audio warnings, dispatching a patrol, or contacting police with verified footage. This level of coordination significantly increases the chances of stopping a crime before it escalates — turning your home from a soft target into a stronghold.

Outbuildings and Vehicles Matter Too

Thieves aren’t just after your TV or jewellery. Quad bikes, ride-on mowers, tools, and even heating oil tanks are high-value targets.

• Sheds and barns should be locked with heavy-duty padlocks and chains. Consider installing a basic alarm sensor in detached buildings.
• Driveway Alarms can alert you when a vehicle or person approaches, long before they reach your home.

Keep It Low-Key

Criminals often scout areas days or even weeks in advance. Avoid advertising expensive purchases online. Be discreet about your lifestyle and assets. Ensure deliveries and tradespeople don’t get easy views into garages or home layouts.

Community Vigilance Still Works

Build relationships with neighbours. A WhatsApp group or community watch setup allows rapid sharing of suspicious activity. When rural residents look out for each other, criminals get nervous.

Final Thoughts

The countryside may be idyllic, but that doesn’t mean crime doesn’t exist. As rural and semi-rural burglary rates rise across the UK, the best defence is to think ahead. By combining common sense, practical upgrades, and community awareness, you can dramatically reduce your risk — and sleep easier at night.

By: FCJ van Tubbergh 25/07/2025