Going on holiday is always exciting, but the idea of leaving your home unoccupied for a while can be a source of anxiety. After all, a week-long stay in Mykonos creates a large window of opportunity for burglars.
All too often, holidaymakers come home to find that they've been burgled. We've pulled together some top tips to help you secure your home before going on holiday - you'll enjoy your break even more when you're not worrying about break-ins!
1. Be careful what you post on social media.
Burglars tend to choose their targets carefully, and they're always looking for clues as to when a home will be vacant. If you post 'off to Spain for two weeks' on a Facebook profile that anyone can view, you might as while hang a big 'come on in' sign over your front door.
Be wary of what you post, and of how much you reveal about the time you spend away from home.
2. Cancel or reschedule your regular deliveries.
You don't want parcels and other deliveries to pile up on your doorstep while you're out of town. Not only does this signify that no one has left or entered the house in a while, it also makes it easy for thieves to pinch your parcels.
Consider rescheduling planned deliveries and/or temporarily cancelling any subscription services that deliver to your door - that way, you're not giving away that no one's home.
3. Make it look like someone's home.
If you've ever seen Home Alone, then you'll know exactly where this is going! Here are a few things you can do to deter potential thieves:
- Invest in programmable light timers
- Leave a car on the drive (if you're willing to risk it!)
- Leave some of your upstairs curtains open
4. Don't leave valuables in plain sight.
Before going on holiday, ensure that you hide all valuables from view. It may even be worth looking in through your own windows and seeing what's visible from outside. Put yourself in the burglar's shoes!
Ask yourself what items you consider valuable, and think about where to conceal them. Choose a good hiding place that's not too obvious - see Where to Store Valuables at Home.
5. Invest in a good home security system.
If there's one thing your average burglar wants to avoid at all costs, it's getting caught. Installing a home security system is a good way to deter thieves, and in the event of a break-in, the security system can alert the police and provide evidence of the crime if this becomes necessary later on.
Here at IDS Security, we install and maintain a wide range of security systems, including:
Get in touch today, or request a FREE security survey and one of our experienced engineers will advise you on the best solution for your requirements.
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