The Key Is Under The Flowerpot... Quiz

Answer: In a key safe bolted to a wall

There is a perception that burglars use jemmies, break windows, or kick in doors to gain access to a house.

While in some cases they do use force, in many others they do not need to.

"Readers Digest" quoted statistics that revealed: "Thirty-four percent [of burglars] use the front door, while 22 percent get in through the back door." In addition, 23 per cent get in through ground floor widows.

It gets worse: According to the Police Service for Northern Ireland, in a third of burglaries the intruder got in through an unlocked door.

Burglars also know all the likely hiding places for spare keys. If you want to keep a spare key for emergencies, buy a small key safe that you screw to a wall and can open using a keypad code that only you know.

Just don't lose your key and forget the code while you are out shopping.

Answer: A random sequence of numbers, letters and symbols

Depressingly, too many people use very simple passwords, or none at all.

Some security commentators also advise using words from a song.

The University of Nebraska recommends: "The longer your password, the more secure it is, generally speaking." And don't forget to change it regularly.

According to cnn.net in 2019, the 10 most common passwords were:
123456
123456789
qwerty
password
111111
12345678
abc123
1234567
password1
12345

Answer: False

If computer scammers get to know one, they will then have access to all.

Answer: True

Among those annoying little things around the house are waiting for a kettle to boil or a computer to come to life.

Many people rarely shut down their computer.

There are good reasons to do so, though. It cuts off the connection to the internet and that means criminals cannot download malware or spyware and cannot take control of your computer for their own uses.

Answer: Front left pocket of your trousers

We are talking pickpockets here.

The looser the pocket the easier it is for them to 'dip' in and steal the wallet. The front left, or maybe even the front right, tend to be tight pockets and harder to access.

Inside pockets of a jacket can be fair game to a proficient pickpocket, too if you do not stay buttoned or zipped up. A favourite trick of pickpockets is to brush against a victim leaving a dirty mark. In the midst of profuse apologies, the pickpocket will brush down the victim's clothes and, in all the distraction, dip a hand into the pocket.

Pickpockets often work in pairs or even small groups and tourists in big cities are often targeted. A typical trick is for one pickpocket to distract a 'mark' while a second steals a wallet. The really good teams will have a third person close by for the 'hand-off' of the stolen wallet.

Never keep your wallet in a hip pocket. Not only is it bad security, but you can damage a credit card. In addition, all that sitting on a big pile of cash can affect your posture and cause back problems.

On the subject, never keep a wallet in a backpack or an unzipped handbag/purse. In addition, in a supermarket, don't be tempted to hang your handbag/purse or that convenient little holder beneath the handle, and never leave it accessible to other while you are picking items from a shelf.

Talking of big piles of cash, never carry more money than you will need on a day-to-day basis. And never carry more than a couple of credit or debit cards.

Answer: Hallway

The hallway is far too obvious. Few of us keep a light on there for long periods.

It is best to light the rooms people are most likely to be in after dark. You can use timer switches to turn lights on and off, as if someone is moving from room to room.

Some people leave televisions on, but your insurance company might not like that as some televisions are known to have been the causes of household fires.

Answer: False

The use of keyless entry has become more prevalent in recent years.

The system means that you carry a fob or credit-card sized transmitter than unlocks the doors as you walk close.

But thieves use electronic devices - some of which can be easily bought on the internet - to read and copy the coded signal.

If you keep your signal generator too close to the car in your home at night, thieves can copy the code and steal the car from your own driveway. They can capture your code from up to 10 metres away.

A competent thief can steal a normal car in about two and a half minutes. If a thief captures the signal of your keyless car, then it is "Gone In 60 Seconds".

In 2018, the German Automobile Club tested 237 "keyless entry" vehicles and found that only seven could not be opened or started. In February 2020, officers from Essex Police, the Metropolitan Police, and the British Transport Police carried out an operation against one gang suspected of stealing 90 'keyless entry' cars worth £5m in a 16-month period.

The best security is to keep the fob or car in an RFID safebag or wallet at all times. The material in the bags blocks any attempt to access the signal. This is sometimes known as a "Faraday Bag".

Answer: Any that has an RFID layer

Many credit and debit cards now offer "contactless" payment. Simply holding the card close to device in a shop means you can pay for goods without needing to key in a PIN.

The signals can be captured and copied by thieves who can then clone your card. An RFID (Radio-frequency identification) barrier will prevent this.

Answer: In a locked garage

Most car thieves are opportunist. They will go for the target that offers them the easiest, and generally quickest, option.

Putting your car in a locked garage at night introduces new levels of security that a thief would have to overcome.

I should not have to say this, but you should also ensure that the locks on your garage doors are of high safety level. If your home burglar alarm can be extended to the garage, use it too.

It used to be said that modern cars were unstealable. In the UK there was an historic low in car thefts in 2014, but that had increased by 47 per cent by 2018.

If you have no choice but to park your car in the open at night, fit additional security measures such as a highly visible steering wheel lock. Always use the alarm if your car has one.

Answer: Local police Crime Prevention Officer

Most police services have trained Crime Prevention Officers - the job title may vary from force-to-force.

These officers can offer specific advice . Sometimes they are able to visit your home or business to give on-the-spot tips.

The advice is independent of any business considerations and in most cases offered free of charge. (In the UK at least.)