15 Things Ex-MI6 Officers Teach Elderly British People Living Alone to Keep Burglars Away at Night

Overview

The video presents 15 low-cost evening security habits intended to make a home harder for burglars to assess, particularly for older people living alone. The narrator, who says he worked as a locksmith in northern England, emphasizes preparation and routine over expensive security systems.

Evening Security Habits

1. Check every door and window by hand before bed rather than relying on memory or a quick glance.
2. Use the deadbolt or mortise lock on exterior doors, including doors leading from a garage, rather than relying only on the latch.
3. Close blinds and curtains after dark to prevent passersby from seeing inside or tracking your movements.
4. Move valuables away from windows or position them so they’re less visible from outside.
5. Use a motion-sensor porch light instead of leaving a light on all night. The narrator says it can illuminate someone approaching rather than create constant shadows.
6. Light side paths and the back of the house, including less visible corners and areas near sheds.
7. Use plug-in timers for a lamp and radio to create the impression of activity while you’re asleep or away.
8. Arm your alarm consistently, including window sensors and other detectors if available.
9. Consider a wireless driveway or path alert that chimes indoors when someone approaches.
10. Bring in post, parcels, bins, and outdoor items that might suggest nobody is paying attention. If you’ll be away, ask a neighbour or the post office to manage your mail.
11. Park a car in the driveway if possible to suggest someone is home. The narrator also mentions visible boots or a coat as possible signs of another occupant.
12. Keep a charged phone within reach of the bed. If you suspect a break-in, the narrator advises not leaving the room to investigate.
13. Don’t open the door to an unknown visitor at night. Speak through the door or an intercom, use a spyhole, and call for help if concerned.
14. Trim bushes and hedges near doors and windows so they don’t provide cover. The narrator also suggests gravel or thorny plants as deterrents.
15. Plan a safe room and response in advance. Choose a lockable room, keep a phone and torch nearby, know the address you’ll give emergency services, and stay put rather than searching the house. The narrator advises calling 999 in an emergency and 101 for non-emergencies.

Closing Suggestion

Look at your home from the street after dark. Notice what can be seen through the windows and where someone might hide.

The video’s central theme is to reduce visible clues about who is home, what is inside, and what the household’s routine may be.

Locations, Products, and People Mentioned

• Locations: Harrogate, North Yorkshire (the subtitles render the place name unclearly), and Leeds.
• Products: Motion-sensor and solar flood lights, plug-in timers, alarms, and wireless driveway alerts.
• People: The narrator, who identifies himself as a retired or experienced locksmith, and the stories of Margaret Hollis and Dorothy Henshaw.