A holiday should be a break from worry, but many people spend the first few days wondering whether they locked the back door. Burglars look for homes that are empty, and they are good at spotting the signs. A few precautions before you leave will make your house a much harder target and help you relax while you are away.
Lock up and secure your valuables
Walk round the house before you leave and lock each door and window, including the ones you forget about, such as a utility room window, a side gate or the door from the garage. An open window at the back of the house is all a burglar needs.
Small, expensive items are the first things a thief looks for. Lock away jewellery, cash and electronics, and keep anything of value in the garage or shed out of sight. Thieves also take passports, bank cards and statements so they can steal your identity, so lock up any documents you are not taking with you.
A holiday is also a good time to update your list of household valuables. Note serial numbers and take photos of jewellery and other items. If the worst happens, the list will help the police and your insurer.
Make the house look lived in
A dark house with a pile of post behind the door tells a burglar the house is empty. Use these steps to make the house look occupied:
- Put lamps on timers so lights come on in the evening.
- Fit motion-sensor lights outside to light up anyone who comes near the house.
- Ask a neighbour to collect post and parcels, or pause deliveries.
- Keep holiday photos off social media until you are home.
If you have smart home controls, you can switch lights on and off from your phone while you are away. Turn the heating down or set it to a holiday mode, which saves energy without letting the house get cold enough for pipes to freeze.
A working burglar alarm adds another layer of protection. Test it before you go, and make sure someone can respond if it goes off while you are away.
Reduce fire risks before you leave
Candles, decorations and portable heaters cause many fires in the home, and unattended cooking causes many more. Before you leave, unplug heaters, fairy lights and appliances you don’t need to leave on, and check that the cooker and hob are off. Keep a fire extinguisher in the kitchen and test your smoke alarms, so a neighbour who notices a problem can act.
Keep spare keys out of sight
A spare key under the mat, in a plant pot or taped inside the letterbox is the first place a burglar checks, and they know the hiding places better than you do. Take it inside before you go. Leave a spare key with a neighbour or friend you trust, so someone can let in a tradesperson or deal with a leak.
If you don’t have a neighbour nearby, or you don’t want to ask, a keyholding company can hold your keys and attend if your alarm goes off. 1st Nationwide Security is an SIA Approved Contractor for keyholding. We hold keys to BS 7984, which means they are sealed, coded and receipted, and our officers are screened to BS 7858 with enhanced DBS checks. We respond to alarms 24 hours a day and email you a report after each call-out. Read more about our keyholding and alarm response service or call us on 020 8540 8830.