Plan ahead to protect your home in the holiday season
Its holiday time but while that means excitement and relaxation for you, it can mean chance and opportunity for thieves who are often on the lookout for homes that are empty, particularly during holiday times, as they know a lot of people go away.
And in the rush to get ready to go away it can be easy to leave your home vulnerable to chance burglars. Police advice is to plan ahead and think about how to protect your property so you don't become a victim over the summer.
Make your home look like someone is living in it, e.g.don't close your curtains. In the day time this shows your house is empty. Also, use automatic timer switches to turn your lights and radios on when it goes dark. You can do this even if you are just going out for the evening.
Don't switch on lights in front rooms where curtains will be left open. It will simply illuminate all your possessions. Landing lights and bedroom lamps are best. Cancel any newspaper or milk deliveries. Use the Royal Mail's 'keepsafe' service - they keep your mail for up to two months while you're away. Mail sitting on your doorstep is a sign that you are away. Trusted neighbours may be able to help you by collecting your post, opening and closing curtains and they could park their car on your driveway.
Avoid discussing holiday plans where strangers may hear details of your absence from home. Try not to take a taxi to the airport. If you do, use a taxi company you can rely on, don't discuss your holiday plans and make it sound like you have a house-sitter, whether you do or not.
Cut the lawns and trim back any plants that thieves could hide behind. If you are leaving your car protect that too, ideally locked in a garage with the keys hidden somewhere in the house. Or consider parking it on the drive of a relative or neighbour. If you do have to park it outside make sure there are no valuables inside, that it is locked and the keys hidden inside the house.
Leave important documents and valuable items with other family members or a bank. Alternatively lock them in a safe. Do not put your home address on your luggage when you are travelling to your holiday destination. A house number and postcode will suffice if you want to label your luggage.
If you normally leave valuable bicycles or similar items in your shed, consider putting them in the house. Make sure that you lock all outside doors and windows and set your burglar alarm if you have one. Double check your insurance cover and mark electrical items with your postcode in invisible marker.
William Jordan, managing director of residential lettings agency Jordan's, said the same rules also apply to tenants. He said: "Landlords often rent out properties to young, less security conscious individuals and often on short term lets. "These tenants are likely to have less to lose than a homeowner so security is unlikely to be at the top of their agenda. "They're not as likely to scour the house, making sure it's secure before jetting off. "Thieves know this and as a result student properties are often targeted. "Landlords and agents should give tenants a simple list of security tips they can carry out before going away to get them thinking." He added: "Make sure there's a secure place for garden equipment to be locked up and encourage tenants to use this. "I've known a burglar use a small garden fork to break into a window and ransack a house. This could have been avoided with a bit of thought." Happy holidays!
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