Guide
Preventing burglaries: what actually works
Burglary prevention is neither a matter of gadgets nor an equipment arms race. It is a combination of mechanical resistance, time gained and simple habits. Here is what counts, in order of effectiveness.
Published on by the France Serrure Gironde team
The basic principle: make intruders lose time
A break-in attempt that drags on is an attempt that fails: the longer an opening resists, the greater the risk of being seen or heard, and the more likely the intruder is to give up. The entire logic of mechanical protection — multipoint lock, high-resistance cylinder, reinforced door — rests on this principle.
It is also why consistency comes first: an excellent cylinder on a fragile door, or a reinforced door next to an unprotected window, merely shifts the point of attack.
Where to start: an audit of your entry points
Walk around your home asking a single question at each opening: 'through here, how much time and how much noise?'. The front door, but also the service door, the cellar door, ground-floor windows, an accessible balcony French window, access via the garage.
In Bordeaux housing, the recurring weak points are well known: rear access to échoppes (the traditional single-storey Bordeaux stone houses) via the back lane or garden, cellar doors in older apartment buildings, and basement vents. These are often what should be dealt with first — not the main door, which is usually already adequate.
Then prioritise within a given budget: first the resistance of the weakest point, then the consistency of the whole, and finally the extras (alarm, detection, camera), which complement mechanical protection but do not replace it.
The habits that cost nothing
Actually lock up: a multipoint lock that is not engaged (a door simply pulled shut) offers only a fraction of its resistance. Turning the key as you leave should be automatic, even for ten minutes.
Don't leave signs of absence: an overflowing letterbox, shutters closed for weeks on end, public holiday announcements on social media. For longer absences, 'Opération Tranquillité Vacances' — a French police scheme — lets you request patrol visits while you are away; sign up at the police station or gendarmerie, or online.
Finally, never hide a key outside. Under the flower pot, in the letterbox, above the door frame: these hiding places are the first ones checked. A spare key with someone you trust does the same job, without the risk.
What about electronics?
Alarms, detectors and cameras have a dual effect — deterrence and evidence — but they only come into play once the intrusion attempt has begun: they do not hold a door shut. The sensible order remains: mechanical protection first, electronics second.
If you fit your home with a camera, mind the law: filming the public highway or your neighbour's door is regulated in France and can engage your liability. Keep the field of view within your own property.
One last point: your home insurance policy. Some policies require a minimum level of protection (type of lock, shutters) for theft cover, and failing to meet it can reduce your payout. Re-reading those clauses before investing helps you target the right equipment.