A vacant property can be a tempting target for would-be criminals. Whether your property is being renovated, waiting for new tenants to move in, or even awaiting demolition, it can be a challenge to keep it secure.
In this blog, we’ll talk about vacant properties, why they can be a target and what you can do to deter criminals.
Why Might a Property Be Vacant?
There are a variety of reasons why a property might be empty, whether that’s on a temporary or permanent basis.
Business Operating Hours
It could just be a case that your commercial property only operates during the day, so it is left vacant overnight and needs protection.
End of Rental Agreement
Your commercial or residential tenants may have moved out, and you’re still looking for a new tenant to replace them.
Change of Ownership
Commercial properties in particular are often empty when you’re selling the building, or have just bought it and are waiting to move in.
Redevelopment and Renovations
If you’re redeveloping a commercial property whilst you’re changing the use of premises, or are a homeowner undergoing renovations that mean you can’t live there, your property will likely be empty, especially at night.
Probate Issues
When someone dies, their property is likely to be empty whilst going through the probate process, waiting for the house to be sold or for the beneficiary to move in.
Why Might Someone Try To Enter a Vacant Property?
Unfortunately, especially in the current economic climate, many people turn to crime, so vacant properties are seen as an easy target, with each would-be criminal having their own motivations:
Theft
Properties that are temporarily vacant overnight, or over the weekend, are targets for thieves looking to steal property to sell. It’s not just occupied properties that are vulnerable, however, as particularly desperate criminals will target completely vacant properties to steal copper wires and pipes which hold some value.
Vandalism
Criminals vandalise property for a variety of reasons. It could be a disgruntled customer or former employer, people under the influence of drugs or alcohol whose inhibitions and sense of moral compass is jaded, or simply teenagers vandalising property with graffiti for their own amusement.
Squatters
People who have no home or safe space to go often target properties that they know have been vacant for a while to get shelter, particularly in the colder and wetter months like Autumn and Winter.
How To Protect Your Vacant Property
With a combination of your own investment and using a trusted security company like Oakpark, you can deter and catch would-be criminals before they damage your property.
Secure Potential Points of Entry
It may be obvious, but having secure entry points like gates, doors, and windows is the first step to securing your property to prevent unauthorised entry.
Manage Keys and Access
We’d recommend keeping the number of people who have access to your property when it’s empty to a minimum. Think about who might need access to your property when it’s not in use. We offer a locking and unlocking service to help keep your property secure and will ensure it’s only unlocked when someone needs access.
Alarm Systems and CCTV
A visible alarm system and CCTV acts as a deterrent for criminals and is important even if the property is vacant on a long-term basis. At Oakpark Security, we offer 24/7 CCTV monitoring and alarm response so we can secure your property and catch any intruders before they become a problem.
Regular Security Patrols
Regular security checks and patrols are important, especially if your property stores goods that can be sold for a profit. Oakpark Security has fully liveried cars and uniformed security personnel to demonstrate a visible presence to trespassers.
Need Vacant Property Protection?
We appreciate that security and protecting a vacant property is a lot to think about and can be expensive, especially if the property is not currently making a profit. Not having vacant property protection can be costly, through repair work and loss of goods.
To assess what security measures your vacant property might need, we offer a security consultancy and audit service.
Get in touch with us and let us know how we can help via our contact form, or give us a call on 01206 793 673 for a free chat.
