Keep Your Home Safe This Summer

If you are going away this summer, it is important to take a few security precautions around the home before you leave.   The simple steps below will help ensure your home remains safe and secure whilst you are having a wonderful time on holiday!

Find A House Sitter

When your home is occupied, it is far less likely to be targeted. Ask a friend or relative if they are willing to stay in your home while you are away. Whilst there, they can also water your plants and feed your pets! There are several websites where you can find a trusted house sitter to look after your property giving you peace of mind whilst you are away on holiday.

Check That Your Home Insurance Is Up To Date

Before leaving home, it is crucial to check that your insurance policies are up to date. This gives you the peace of mind, knowing that in the event of an issue, you will be covered.

Halt Your Mail

Piles of mail sitting in your letterbox is a telltale sign that no one is home, making your property a prime target for burglars. Ask the Royal Mail to pause delivery of your mail while you are away, or ask a trusted neighbour to collect your mail until you return.

Hire A Gardener

An overgrown front yard is another sign that the homeowner has been away for an extended period. This problem is solved easily by asking a neighbour friend or relative to mow the lawn for you. You could alternatively hire a professional gardener.

Avoid Sharing Your Travel Plans On Social Media!
In the age of the Internet, it is very easy to find out what people are doing. Don’t be tempted to share the dates of your holiday or divulge too much information on social media as this may leave you in a vulnerable position.

Hide Your Valuables

When criminals are looking for a home to break into, they will often peek through the windows to determine what kinds of valuables are inside. Hide valuable items so they cannot be seen from outside and draw the blinds or curtains.

Ask A Neighbour To Keep An Eye On Your Home

If you have a great relationship with your neighbours, ask them to keep an eye on your home in your absence. Give them a phone number where they can reach you just in case an issue arises. If they notice anything unusual, ask them to call the police and let you know immediately, (you can return the favour when they are away).

Don’t Hide Spare Keys

Remove any spare keys from around your property. If a friend or relative needs to access your home, give them a key. Burglars know the common hiding places for keys and have the time to search for it outside an empty home.

Keep Your Exterior Spaces Well Lit

Use timers on exterior lights to keep the spaces outside well lit at night. If you want to save some power, use lights with infrared sensors that are triggered by movement. Prune or trim any bushes that are close to your home as they could help burglars to remain hidden whilst breaking in.

Invest In A Basic Alarm System

Most burglaries are not committed by seasoned professionals, they are generally committed by teenagers or criminals who are not particularly bright! A cheap alarm system may be all that is required to deter or detect these kinds of criminals. You can buy a cheap system for as little as £30 online.

Lock Away Ladders & Tools

In many cases, a burglary is a spontaneous crime that occurs when a criminal sees an easy opportunity to break into a home. Hide any ladders or tools that can make breaking into your home easier for criminals.

Install Deadbolt Locks On Windows & Doors

A good deadbolt lock can stop a wannabe burglar in their tracks! Install quality locks on all entrance points to reduce a criminal’s chance of successfully breaking in.

Create The Illusion That Someone Is At Home

If you are unable to find a house sitter, use electronic timers to make it appear that someone is home. You can use timers to turn lights on and off, turn a radio or a television on. Consider leaving your car in the driveway or ask a neighbour if they can leave their car in a visible position. These steps make the building seem fully occupied and may help to deter burglars.

Avoid Leaving Valuables In Predictable Places

Most homeowners keep their valuables in their study or bedroom. Burglars are well aware of this and head directly to those locations to search for them. Consider the most unusual locations instead or better yet, keep your valuables in a well-concealed floor safe.

Invest In A Wireless CCTV Camera

Wireless CCTV cameras have significantly dropped in price over the last few years and you can now buy a system with 4 cameras and a recording device for as little as £69.99! A CCTV camera it acts as a very strong deterrent and most potential burglars will immediately walk away.

Some of the new CCTV systems can be connected to the Internet and will send your mobile phone a message if a camera catches movement. With this fantastic technology you can monitor your home no matter where you are!