Securing your home

In 2024, 50% of all home break-ins in the Northern Territory happened through unlocked doors or windows. The best way to deter intruders is simple — make sure your home is as secure as possible. That means locking up, doing regular maintenance, and investing in quality locks and doors within your budget.

Most burglars are opportunists, looking for an easy way in and a quick way out. The average break-in takes about eight minutes — the time it takes to boil an egg — so every extra layer of security counts.

Even small, affordable changes can make a big difference in keeping your home, your belongings, and your family safe.

Find out how safe your home is

Want to know how your home measures up? Try our free online quiz, How Safe Is My House, to assess your home’s security. You’ll get a customised report with practical tips to help strengthen your defences.

Crime prevention isn’t just about alarms and cameras — it’s about smart habits, too. Simple actions like locking doors and windows or placing a dowel in a sliding door track can stop a break-in before it starts.

The quiz is an Australia-first, based on Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) principles.

< Take the quiz

Get to know your neighbours

Your neighbours can be your number one crime prevention tool and connecting with them can help to create safer and happier Territory neighbourhoods.

Your neighbours can:

reduce prowling, loitering and burglary by reporting suspicious people or vehicles to NT Police
keep an eye on your property when you are away from home
keep a spare key for you instead of leaving it outside your property
be your “go to” in the event of an emergency.

Always lock up

It only takes minutes for a thief to get in, grab valuables, and disappear — even while you’re home in another room.

Quick tips:

Always lock doors and windows, even if you’re just out in the garden or shed.
Lock your garage and the internal access door to your home.
Treat your garage door with the same importance as your front door.

Out of sight, out of mind

Thieves look for easy temptations — valuables left in plain view or keys sitting near doors.

Quick tips:

Keep keys out of sight and away from windows or entryways.
Don’t keep car and house keys on the same keyring.
Move valuables like phones, laptops, and gaming consoles away from windows.
Cut up boxes from new purchases before recycling to avoid advertising expensive items.

Secure your entrances

Strong locks, sturdy doors, and security screens make your home much harder to break into.

Quick tips:

Fit solid external doors made from wood, metal, or fiberglass with quality deadbolts.
Use patio bolts on sliding doors for added strength.
Check that hinges are on the inside of doors and use long screws (at least 80mm) to secure strike plates.
Install motion sensor lights at all entry points.
Display Neighbourhood Watch stickers on your letterbox or window — visible deterrents work!

For windows:

Keep windows locked, even on higher floors.
Apply security film or install tempered glass to make them harder to break.
Consider security grilles or shutters — many modern designs look great and add safety.
Use curtains or one-way blinds to block visibility from the street.

Leave a spare key with someone you trust

Burglars know all the usual hiding spots — under mats, in pot plants, or inside fake rocks.

Quick tips:

Leave your spare key with a trusted friend, neighbour, or family member.
If you use a key safe, choose a high-quality model and secure it to a solid, hidden surface — not near the front door.

Make your home look occupied

Most burglaries happen when nobody’s home. Create the illusion that someone’s inside — even when you’re not.

Quick tips:

Use timers on lights, TVs, or radios when you’re away.
Keep your yard neat and tidy — long grass or overgrown shrubs signal you’re away.
Trim trees and bushes near windows to remove hiding spots.

Additional security

Visible security measures tell intruders your home isn’t an easy target.

Quick tips:

Install alarms and motion-sensor lighting to deter thieves.
Use smart cameras and video doorbells to monitor your home remotely and receive motion alerts.
Position cameras to capture faces rather than just the tops of heads.
Remember: cameras alone don’t prevent theft, but footage can help Police recover stolen property.
For an extra layer of safety, store photos and records of your valuables in the MyVault app — it’s free and helps you document your property for insurance or Police reports if needed.

Your home should always feel safe. By locking up, being neighbourly, and adding smart security layers, you can reduce the risk of break-ins and feel confident that your home — and everything in it — is protected.