A new letterplate from ARRONE has been launched to help protect homeowners from ‘letterbox fishing’ without compromising on sleek design and functionality.
Latest data released in July 2024 from the Crime Survey for England and Wales (CSEW) shows that entry via a door occurred in 72% of reported burglaries between April 2022 and March 2023. This is despite domestic burglaries in England and Wales reaching its lowest in four decades at 391 – 15% of total thefts.
The new TS 008:2022 tested letterplate from ARRONE, a HOPPE Group brand, offers protection from key fishing by opportunistic burglars looking to gain entry via a front door.
While the overall trend indicates that we’re becoming much savvier when it comes to security, doors are often still a target for opportunist burglars warns Andy Matthews, head of sales at HOPPE (UK).
“Homeowners are becoming much more aware of the need to protect their property, but the rise of the video doorbells and other smart devices mean that when considering their home security, they often think of the latest technology and other visual deterrents like burglar alarms first. They sometimes aren’t aware of the role that high quality door hardware plays in deterring and even preventing certain burglary methods,” says Andy.
One of those methods is letterbox fishing: a common technique used by criminals to steal possessions within easy reach of a door. This can be prevented through the addition of a security shroud – sometimes referred to as a letterplate restrictor or security hood – on the inside of the door, but these can often be quite bulky and therefore off-putting for homeowners.
To overcome this issue, ARRONE has launched its new AR708HS TS 008:2022 tested letterplate. It features an anti-theft steel guard solution with a slimline cover on the inside door that offers a more discreet finish that will suit the décor of any home. With a projection of just 21mm, the cover provides non-restrictive door opening, even when the door is fully opened.
The non-intrusive design has an adjustable stepped internal sleeve which prevents the internal flap of the letterplate from being fully opened. This, combined with steel side guard plates, offers protection against letterbox fishing and letterbox manipulation, while still allowing post to pass freely through the letterbox.
The AR708HS letterplate has been tested to TS 008:2022; the latest technical specification for enhanced security and general requirements applicable to letterplate assemblies and slide through letter boxes. It offers a means of assessing how products perform against opportunist attacks, and all new doors fitted with a letterplate must pass this standard to be PAS 24 and Document Q compliant.
The AR708HS has also undergone a 20,000-cycle flap test and 480 hours of neutral salt spray test on the external flap.
For flat and apartment entrance doors, there is also a fire-rated version of the letterplate, the AR708FHS available, complete with an intumescent kit. This is compatible for use with both 30-minute and 60-minute fire doors.
The letterplate is suitable for use on both 44mm and 54mm door thicknesses, and is available in seven finishes – anthracite, black, chrome, graphite, satin chrome, white and brass – that match other suited products within the ARRONE range including door handles, knockers and numerals. AR708HS is also available in a split finish, offering a combination of a white internal flap to match a home’s interior, with the external available in white, as well as the other six finishes.
Andy Matthews added: “The suited collection has been designed to have mass appeal and provide high-quality ironmongery in a variety of finishes that complement both contemporary and traditional door designs. Meanwhile, the range makes it as easy as possible for installers to offer homeowners coordinating hardware incorporating the latest design trends.”
