Home Security for Holidaymakers

Are you concerned about Home Security, while you are away on holiday?

You should be, as crime statistics show that around half of all burglaries occur when a house or a flat is unoccupied.

We all love to go away on holidays and weekend breaks, however the last thing we want is to arrive home and find our home has been violated and our precious possessions stolen.

So it is important to make sure your home is left as secure as possible. You can do this by planning your holiday security ahead of your trip, by following these simple guidelines:

Hold the mail


• Inform your family, friends and close neighbours of your holiday plans and when you expect to return. Request the help of your neighbours which could include; collecting the mail, mowing lawns, opening and closing curtains, and anything that makes the house look lived in. Leave your contact address or telephone number, or that of a key holder in case of emergency.
• If you have a neighbourhood watch scheme in your area, you could enlist the help of members to keep an eye on your property.
• Remember to cancel delivery of milk or newspapers.
• Uncollected mail acts as a signal to burglars that a house is not occupied. The Royal Mail's 'Keepsafe' service will keep your mail for you while you're on holiday. Or, if you're going away in the UK and prefer to keep in touch, you can give people the address of a Post Office near your holiday destination and pick up your mail from there. This service is often available abroad as well.
• Timer switches are a good idea for holiday security. They can be set to automatically switch lights or a radio on and off making it appear that you are at home; or invest in a home Internet security camera system, that allows you to set controls remotely and visually check the security of your home.
• Don't leave valuable equipment, such as your TV, video, DVD or Hi-Fi, where they are easily seen from outside, as this is just what tempts thieves to break in.
• Make sure your home window security is up to scratch: 30% of burglars gain access to homes via a window. Fit window locks if necessary.
• Avoid discussing holiday plans where strangers may hear details, you never know who they might pass the information to.
• Never put your home address on your luggage when you are travelling.
• Secure important documents and valuable items in your home security safe or deposit them in a bank.

Finally just before you go, make sure your property is secure, with a last minute check that all windows and doors, including the garage, side gates and the shed are locked, and set the burglar alarm if you have one. Prepare a home security-holidays list for this and tick the actions off as you complete them.

Now that you have taken holiday security action, have a great holiday with increased peace of mind!