Protect your home from theft this Christmas

The thought of someone breaking into your home, intruding on your life and taking your hard earned possessions is enough to make anyone feel a sense of dread. So, during the festive season, when many of us head off to visit relatives or leave the house unoccupied when we hit the shops, it can easily add to the stress of it all. So, what can you do if you’re planning on leaving the house unoccupied for a while?

Well, don’t worry – here you’ll find some helpful ideas and handy home security tips that will hopefully deter any potential burglar. 

Keep everything in order

If you have a range of privacy trees and shrubs in your garden, then they won’t be enough to deter a potential thief. They might even provide somewhere for a burglar to hide and even observe your property from. You need to keep your home and your garden/yard in a good, well maintained condition if you want to make a burglar think twice about entering. A house in good condition with a well kept garden and a tidy appearance gives the impression that someone is always home and what’s more, neighbours could be watching. 

Lighting

Whilst we’re on the topic of outside, you need to up your outdoor lighting game if you want to avoid a break in. A well-lit house means that there’s nowhere to hide and a thief will be easily spotted if they’re hanging around or making their way through the garden. A few solar lights up the garden path, and an outdoor motion light will certainly help. 

Lock it up

You’d be amazed at how many people forget to lock the door when they go out. It’s happened to all of us before! But did you know you should be locking your front door even if you’re just stepping out into the garden? All it takes is a few moments for someone to slip into your home and grab your purse or your car keys from the hallway. If my partner and I are in the living room with the door shut, we’ll always make sure that the front and back doors are locked first. 

Ask a neighbour

We don’t speak to our neighbours like we used to. Some of us don’t even know their names! But if you really want to reduce the risk of a break in, then getting to know those around you can help. Once they get a sense of your daily routine then they’ll probably realise that the person looking through your front window isn’t a relative…if you’re going away for a few days – let them know, and they can keep an eye on your property for you. 

Be careful what you post

Pictures of the kids in front of the house, the street name visible on the sign in the photograph – your “location” clearly visible on your online bio. Thieves can use anything you post on social media to their advantage, so you might be excited to go away on holiday for the next two weeks but don’t post it all over social media!