We all know that as the evenings draw in and the mornings get darker there can be additional risks for our home security.

So now is the perfect time to take stock of your home security features and work out if there are any improvements you could make. Speaking to the Express recently, former detective Rav Wilding has offered his top tips on how to make your home less of a target to thieves.

His top piece of advice is not to make it easy for burglars. “They always say they pick the easy target. Don’t make that your property, simple things can make a huge difference such as locking your garden gate, garage or even shed,” he stated.

Burglar alarms and security lights are both things that will deter burglars from targeting your home, he revealed.

Checking your locks is another thing Mr Wilding advises. “Some older locks are very easy to snap, letting a thief enter at will, and a good solid new lock is incredibly important,” he asserted.

If you’re unsure about the quality of your home’s locks, it’s worth asking a Nottingham residential locksmith to come and inspect them for you – and fit new ones if necessary.

Another top tip from Mr Wilding is to keep the exterior of your home tidy. One thing to be particularly aware of is any clutter, such as broken tools, old vehicle parts or even logs and bricks that could be used by a thief to help them gain entry to your home.

When it comes to choosing new locks for your doors, we’d recommend anti-snap cylinders, because these are not vulnerable to a technique known as lock snapping, which is becoming increasingly popular among thieves.