Holiday Home Security Checklist

Whether you spend weeks meticulously planning, or the few hours before embarking on a summer holiday are fraught with misplaced booking references and arguing about preferable exchange rates – Most of us leave our place of habitation in a far from composed state. The old cliches of "Did I lock the door?" or "will no.16 find the spare key under the third potplant?" spring to mind.

It is at these times when home security should be of the utmost importance, but more often than not it is overlooked or in some cases totally forgotten. Believe it or not, there are a number of seemingly routine checks and small changes you can make which will dramatically reduce the risk of your property being targeted, such as:

Lock doors and windows

Doors and windows account for the entry point of 70% and 27% of all burglaries respectively. Making those cliches about forgetting or not, even more apt.

Hide those tags

Thieves are more cunning than you think, studies have shown burglars heading to airports and making notes of address on the baggage tags – make sure its not yours they write down.

Security measures displayed

Properties at which a security method was displayed were 19.4% less likely to be targeted. Suggesting that even if you dont have a security system installed, invest in a security sign.

Invest in light timers

56% of all burglaries reported were conducted at night, making investing in a timer a bright idea.

Dont be afraid to ask a neighbour Have a neighbour or friend check on your property every few days to remove obvious signs of your lack of presence. 90% of offenders stated they actively avoided houses with signs of occupancy.

Cancel recurring contracts

 A build-up of papers is a sure sign nobody’s home.

Trim overgrown hedges and plants

During night or day overgrown foliage can be used to conceal a burglar, dont give them a chance – cut back all overgrown plants, especially those which could conceal entry point by windows and doors.

Dont discuss the details

Try to refrain from discussing your holiday plans in public as the wrong people might learn of your absence.

Set your security system What use is your alarm system if you dont set it? Get into a habit a few weeks before you set off to avoid running out the house and failing to hit those few simple buttons.

Dont use the flowerpot

The film "Home Alone" has grossed nearly a billion dollars, don’t assume that the burglars operating in your area haven’t seen it. Arrange a more secure method of distributing spare keys than the flowerpot by the door.

 

 

 

 

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