Going on holiday is one of life's greatest pleasures. You save up all year for some blissful time away from the daily grind.
So, after all the excitement of booking and planning your great escape, make sure you’ve done all you can to protect your home from a break-in while you’re away.
Burglars often strike during school holidays, when they know homes are sitting empty. They look for signs that a house is unoccupied, such as an overgrown front lawn or deliveries clogging the letterbox.
Some thieves even listen to people chatting about their holidays in public places, so they know when to strike.
The good news is that there are plenty of things you can do to avoid becoming a victim of burglary. Here are our eight common sense tips.
1. Ask neighbours to pop in
Burglars often watch your home for a few days while they're planning a break-in, to make sure nobody will be in.
Ask your friends or neighbours to pop in every couple of days to check everything is okay. Not only will it give you peace of mind that they’ll alert you if there are any problems, but knowing someone could catch them in the act is likely to prove a big deterrent for any potential thieves.
2. Don’t broadcast your break
Tempting as it may be to upload a selfie of you on a sun-lounger onto social media, remember that you risk alerting burglars to the fact you’re away.
Loads of us are guilty of letting the world know when we’re off on our hols, often giving exact dates and timings. If you really can’t resist bragging about your break, make sure your social media settings are private so that only verified contacts can see your updates.
If you've posted about your holiday on social media, your insurance company could argue that you've advertised the fact that your home is unoccupied. Therefore, any claim you make for burglary during that time may be invalid.
Remember, too, that thieves will often eavesdrop into conversations to find out when properties are going to be empty, so watch what you say when you’re on the bus or in the pub.
3. Hide valuables
Burglars often like to do a bit of window-shopping before they break in.
If they can see all sorts of tempting treats in your home, such as expensive electrical items, silverware, jewellery or antiques, then your property will become a prime target. Put away any valuables that are on display so they can’t be seen from outside.
4. Cancel regular deliveries
Perhaps the biggest giveaway that you’re not at home is having milk bottles and delivery boxes piling up on the doorstep.
Cancel any regular orders you have for the time you’re away, and ask a neighbour to keep an eye out for any post that might be protruding from your letterbox so they can put it inside.
5. Move the spare key
Some people leave a spare key under the nearest plant pot or under the doormat, but burglars will often check these places first to see if they can gain easy access. Never leave a key outside your property – instead give it to a neighbour or relative for safekeeping.
It’s also worth noting that if a burglar gains access to your home using a key you’ve left outside, there’s a high chance it will invalidate your home insurance, as the burglar was able to enter without using force.
6. Lock up ladders and tools
Ladders and tools lying around the garden can make a burglar’s job much easier, enabling them to gain access to your property while you’re away.
Make sure they’re locked away where they can’t be seen.
7. Install light timers
Lights going on and off in the home are a good deterent for burglars. Buy timers for a couple of key internal rooms and set them to come on every evening for a few hours while you're away.
Automatic motion detectors outside your home will help, too. No thief wants to be caught in the bright lights as they sneak around in your garden looking for a way into the building.
8. Leave a car parked outside
If you have a driveway, leave a car there so it looks as though someone's home. If you're taking your car with you, you could invite a friend or neighbour to park there while you're away.
Remember, any signs that someone may be around could deter would-be thieves. They're looking for an easy target; somewhere they can get in and out of easily, unseen. So the more clues you leave that someone is around, the more they'll think twice.
Enjoy your holiday with peace of mind, knowing you've done all you can to keep your house secure.
