Section 3. Outlining, the standard topic outline form.

Burglaries. The figures for burglaries have risen alarmingly over the last few years and now quite appalling. Let me quote you a few statistics about break-ins.

A house is burgled in Britain now about every two minutes, and over the past three years, the number of burglaries reported to the police has risen by approximately 50,000 to well over 400,000 this year. The insurance companies report that last year alone, household burglary loss rose by 27% over the previous year to 138.2 million pounds.

And I believe one or two companies are refusing to provide burglary cover in what we might call high-risk areas. There are, nevertheless, half a dozen measures which can be taken against burglaries, which I will briefly outline for you. It really only requires some basic common sense and a small outlay, combined with a little knowledge of the way a burglar thinks and operates.

You have to put yourself in his position really. Most burglars are opportunists looking for an easy break-in, so don't make things simple for them. Don't advertise the fact you're out or away, or be careless about security.