Security tips for a safe Christmas
THE WEEKS leading up to Christmas are the biggest shopping weeks of the year, and for many retailers often accounts for 70 per cent of their annual revenue. Stocking our homes with the latest electronic gadgets, computers, jewellery and must-have accessories is commonplace. Unfortunately, though, it provides thieves with the perfect incentive to commit burglaries.
Read these tips to ensure your home is secure over Christmas and the New Year.
Deterring would-be criminals is one of the most effective forms of crime prevention. Invest in a motion sensor floodlight or even some outdoor Christmas lights to highlight your home’s exterior. This will hopefully make approaching your home too conspicuous for a burglar.
FESTIVE LIGHTING
Be secure. A common mistake of many festive decorators is to feed extension cables through partially open windows; criminals know to look for this vulnerability. When it comes to outdoor lighting, opt for solar or batteryoperated lights or install outdoor electrical outlets. Refuse collections over the Christmas and New Year
period are normally at different times. If you can’t take packaging to a recycling point, make sure you only put your rubbish out just before the collection and do your best to break apart boxes so that they do not advertise your new contents of your home to thieves!
Be careful not to advertise your home to burglars on social media! According to one recent study, social media is a commonly used tool for scouting potential targets. Social media savvy families have a tendency to publish their whereabouts during the holiday season, including any vacation plans. This lets burglars know when your house is going to be empty. Uploaded photos of pricey Christmas gifts can also be a problem as it basically allows burglars to go shopping just by viewing your Facebook profile.
CHECK DOORS AND WINDOWS FOR WEAK SPOTS
Government statistics show that 30 per cent of burglaries happen through windows. Installing a few deadbolts and new window hinges could increase the security of your home exponentially.
Keep your curtains and window blinds closed at night, making sure valuable items are out of sight. When going out for the evening, make use of inexpensive timers to give the illusion of occupancy.
AWAY OVER CHRISTMAS – PLAN AHEAD
If you’re going away at Christmas, be sure to cancel any newspaper or milk subscriptions. Arrange for a neighbour to park on the driveway to help create the impression someone is home. Do not to leave descriptive telephone answering machine messages on, and again make use of light timers.
SECURE GARAGES AND SHEDS
Make sure that garden tools or ladders that could be used to force entry into your home are not left lying around or accessible from an unlocked garden shed. Garages are often targets for burglars looking for tools, bikes and gardening equipment – make sure the garage is secure and your possessions are secured, too, in the case of bikes and tools. Naturally, make sure anything portable/ valuable is recorded on immobilise.
DON’T HIDE KEYS AND USE ALARMS IF YOU HAVE THEM
Burglars know to look for hidden door keys so don’t hide spare keys under rocks, in flowerpots, or above door ledges. Instead, give the spare key to family