Home burglary is rife over the Christmas period, when houses are left vacant and expensive gifts are being purchased. Read on for 9 tips to keep your home safe.
9 tips to help keep your home secure this Christmas
1. Check your security
Ensure that you have sufficient working locks and bolts on windows, doors and sheds. Also consider a burglar alarm and CCTV. You also need to fix any broken windows and other weak access points. You can visit the UK police or Neighbourhood Watch websites for advice on security.
2. Tell a trusted friend or neighbour your holiday plans
If you are part of a Neighbourhood Watch group, inform them that you will be going away so the group can keep an eye on your house. Alternatively, you can ask a neighbour or friend to watch your home for any suspicious activity and take in post or deliveries.
3. Use smart lights / smart home security
Set lights on timers or invest in a system where you can remotely control lighting to give your home the appearance that it is lived in. You can also put your radio on a timer.
4. Stop deliveries
If you have milk or newspaper deliveries, you should stop these for the duration that you are away. Unopened milk and newspapers piling up on your doorstep are a good indication that no one is home. If you are away for a long period of time, you can also ask Royal Mail to hold your post.
5. Keep valuables out of sight
Don’t leave anything of value in full view of windows or doors so that thieves can be tempted. You should also not leave boxes for expensive items in your recycling bin as this gives the impression that your house is worth breaking into.
6. Protect windows and doors
Remember to lock all windows and doors when you leave the house and safely store away ladders so opportunistic thieves can’t use them to break into your home. Glass window and door panes are particularly vulnerable, so you can replace them with laminated glass or put a film over them to make it harder to break.
7. Don’t share plans on social media or with strangers
People often don’t consider the consequences of sharing their exciting getaway plans in a public space, or posting holiday snaps on Facebook. However, you are highlighting that your property will be empty for a period of time, which gives thieves the ideal opportunity to target your home.
8. Do a perimeter check
You should check around your home and garden for unsecure features. Trim hedges so that burglars are unable to enter your house undetected, shut and secure side gates so they can’t access the rear of your property and make sure that your fences are in good condition.
9. Make sure you are properly insured
Even with the best home security systems and practices in place, it isn’t always enough to protect your home while you are away. In the unfortunate instance that you return from your holiday to find your house has been broken into, you want to know that you have the security of insurance to help you pick up the pieces. Don’t guess the value of your home and its contents and risk being underinsured. Speak to a broker who can help you consider the true cost of replacing your belongings.
Fully protect your home
You can find more advice and tips on our blog. If you are a healthcare professional who is looking to renew your home insurance, contact the specialist team at All Med Pro. We will work with you to make sure you have the right level of cover at the right price. Don’t let thieves ruin your Christmas, contact us today.