Are you going to stay with friends or family over Christmas or are you taking a well-earned vacation during the holidays? If so, the last thing you want is to return home and find that you’ve been burgled. This time of year can be particularly lucrative for thieves looking to take advantage of empty houses and the opportunity to sell on brand new gifts. If you are going away for the holidays, here are some tips to keep your home safe.
Keep your travel plans to yourself
There’s nothing wrong with telling friends and family what you’re up to or where you’re going, but take care when it comes to sharing details on platforms like social media. If you’re updating and sharing statuses that make it obvious that you’re not at home, this could extend an open invitation to an opportunist looking for easy pickings. If you do want to upload photographs from a tropical destination or share family photographs, make sure your account is set to private so that people you don’t know can’t access your profile.
Make it look like you’re at home
Empty houses are much more appealing to thieves, so try and make it look like there’s somebody in all the time. You can do this by asking a neighbor to park their car in your drive, collect your mail and open and close the curtains. It’s also a good idea to cancel any deliveries while you’re away. If there’s a pile of newspapers or milk bottles outside the door, this is a clear sign that the owners are out of town.
Securing your property
There are myriad ways you can secure your property, and you don’t have to spend a fortune on the latest CCTV cameras or electric gates. Make sure all the doors and windows are locked and don’t leave valuables lying around. Use security window film to bolster glass panels and fit a double lock on the front door. If you have gates in the backyard, fit a padlock to make it harder to access to property from the back. Take care not to leave keys within easy reach of the door.
Putting thieves off
Prevention is always better than cure, and as a homeowner, it’s best to try and put thieves off long before they try and break through a door or window. The most effective deterrents include burglar alarms, CCTV cameras, outdoor lights, gates and fences, and dogs. Even if you don’t have a dog, a simple ‘beware of the dog’ sign could be sufficient to make a thief think twice. A burglar will almost always favor an easy option, so make sure you make it as difficult as possible to breach the defenses.
Are you going away for the holidays? This is supposed to be a magical time of year, and the last thing you want is to be worrying about whether your home is safe. Take these security tips on board, and hopefully, you can enjoy time with your friends and family without any anxiety.
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