Is my home safe?

Do you want more responsibility? Have you ever thought about helping older people in the community? Well, now is your chance to help your older relatives by completing a security survey on their home.

Thames Valley Police has designed this security survey for children of primary school age to complete so they can take some responsibility for making sure security is in place and is being used.

If your relatives, parents or the people that own the home agree to this check, ask them to accompany you around their home while you follow the instructions below to answer the questions and to receive your score on how safe the home is.

Note for adult: This is a security survey for children to conduct on older relatives’ homes and on their own home. This should be completed with an adult and with permission of the homeowner.

Note for child: Have you ever wanted to help out? Now you can. Your older relatives (such as Grandma, Grandad, Nanny and Papa) and parents need you to complete a home security check of their home.

Security checklist

Check out the questions below and answer each question with either a smiley face or a sad face (smiley face being ‘yes’ and sad face being ‘no’). Start on the outside of the property.

View the 'Is my home safe?' video (opens new window) - pick up some tips on how to keep burglars away and your belongings safe as a security survey is carried out on a house.

1. Do you have a gate? Is it locked? Does it work well? (If ‘Yes’ is the answer to each question then draw a smiley face or if it is ‘No’ a sad face)
2. Can you lock the windows?
3. Do you have a house security alarm?
4. Can you lock the front door?
5. There is no key left in the front door (A smile agrees with the statement and a frown disagrees)
6. Do you have gravel in front of your home so you can hear people coming?
7. Do you lock your shed, garage and outbuildings?
8. There is no key left outside the house (A smile agrees with the statement and a frown disagrees)
9. Do you have a chain or door bar on the front door?
10. Can you see through your front door to see who is outside?
11. Do you have lights outside your house?
12. Do you mark anything valuable with a marker pen (that lights up under a special blue light)?
13. Do you have timer switches for the lights and/or radios?
14. Do you have blinds or curtains in most of the rooms?
15. Valuable items cannot be seen from the outside (A smile agrees with the statement and a frown disagrees)

Congratulations, you have now completed a home security check. Thames Valley Police thanks you for your help. Now check your scores to see how safe the house is.

Score Board

13 to 17

Congratulations! This home is very secure and the residents seem to be very security aware. The resident should make sure that they always use the security that is in place. A lot of people – adults included – make the mistake of knowing all about home security but they don’t always use it. You have shown them what to look for so now there are no excuses.

9 to 12

The home is fairly secure and the resident is reasonably aware about security but they do need to pay a bit more attention. They now know what security they should have in place and how to use it so they need to take action.

8 and under

Oh dear, the resident could benefit from some extra security for their home. If they have any funding issues then there are local charities like Anchor Staying Put that may be able to assist. Contact your local crime prevention and reduction advisor or local neighbourhood policing team on 101.