Hoddesdon Home Security Assessments: Do You Pass the Test?

Picture the scene: you arrive home after dark and realise you left the upstairs window propped open. The porch light is out, the side gate won’t lock properly, and your CCTV app hasn’t sent a notification in days. Would your home pass a security assessment—or are you relying on luck?

Why an assessment still matters in “low-crime” Hoddesdon

• Burglary is low but not zero. Police recorded 11 burglaries in Hoddesdon in February 2025 alone—5.4 % of all local crime that month. Police UK

• Across the wider ward, burglary runs at 2.74 incidents per 1,000 residents each year. Crystal Roof

• Nationally, burglary is trending down (-3 % in the 12 months to June 2024, 264,963 offences) but it’s still a daily reality for 700+ UK households. Office for National Statistics

In other words, Hoddesdon is safer than average—yet a handful of easily-missed weak spots can still put you on a criminal’s shortlist.

The Hoddesdon Home Security Test (10 quick questions)

Give yourself 1 point for every YES.
(It takes five minutes—grab a pen!)

1. Perimeter: All fences, gates and boundary hedges are in good repair and over 1.8 m tall.

2. Front door: You have a BS 3621 5-lever deadlock and an anti-snap Euro cylinder.

3. Rear doors & patio: Fitted with multi-point locking and a security bar or sash jammer.

4. Windows: Lockable handles on every ground-floor window and those above flat roofs.

5. Lighting: Automatic dusk-to-dawn LEDs cover every approach, with no blown bulbs.

6. CCTV: At least one outward-facing camera records in colour day/night and stores footage for 14 – 31 days.

7. Intruder alarm: A live bellbox (with flashing LED) is visible from the street and tested within the last year.

8. Outbuildings: Sheds/garages use a closed-shackle padlock plus an internal hasp.

9. Privacy: No keys left in locks, and valuables can’t be seen from the road.

10. Neighbour network: You’re on a WhatsApp street group or have nominated key-holders.

How did you score?

Five weak spots we fix most often in Hoddesdon

1. Single-skin uPVC panels on 1990s conservatories—they pop out in under 30 seconds.

2. Side gates with just a bolt—add a coach-bolted hasp and staple plus a weather-rated padlock.

3. Old DVRs—no remote alerts and drives full, so victims realise too late they have no footage.

4. Sensor lights mounted at 4 m—crooks simply unscrew the bulb; install “flood-up” units at 2.5 m instead.

5. Forgotten upstairs windows—fit sash stops (£20/room) so the window only opens 10 cm in vent mode.

DIY fixes vs. professional protection

A good rule of thumb: if a weak spot would cost more than £150 to exploit, hire a professional—insurance excess alone is usually higher.

Ready to raise your score?

Assured AV Security offers a free, no-obligation home-security assessment for Hoddesdon residents. We’ll walk the checklist with you, demonstrate live 4K camera footage, and give you an instant written quote.

• Call 07762 240 157 or tap the Get a Quote button.

• Prefer WhatsApp? Message “ASSESS” to the same number.

• Book online at /free-survey (slots available within 48 hours).

Pass the test—before someone else decides to test it for you.