Summer holidays are just around the corner - and as you're packing your suitcase it's time to think about how to keep your home safe while you're away. While you're sipping your cocktail by the pool, thieves could be targeting the valuables in your house and garden.
Returning home to find you've been burgled can be devastating - both emotionally and financially. On top of claiming on your insurance to replace stolen items, you may have to repair damage to your home or garden. And it can be a struggle to feel safe in your own home again in the aftermath of a break-in.
Nipun Agrawal, director at Hiatt Hardware, has shared five tips to help you keep your property secure this summer holidays - and deter thieves from your valuables.
1. Lock up your house and garden gates
Arguably the most important and effective measure you can take to keep your home secure is to ensure your door and window locks are all up to scratch, not flimsy or wearing out. Do a final check before you leave your property, and whether it be a smart or traditional lock, make sure it’s actually locked and you’ve not left any keys out on display.
You should also get a garden gate lock fitted, an often overlooked piece of security. Garden gate locks are a useful deterrent to thieves looking to break in in other ways and only cost a few pounds. Padbolt latches and auto-gate latches are just a couple of examples of products ideally suited to this purpose.
2. Don’t leave valuables or mail outside
Thieves will always be on the lookout for high-value, easy-to-grab items such as garden furniture, bicycles and playing equipment, especially if it’s not locked away or protected by solid security measures. Whether you do or don’t have ample security protecting your garden, you should still take the time to lock all of your goodies away in a shed or somewhere indoors, dissuading thieves from wanting to break in.
Something as minor as your mail piling up at your front door can also be a dead giveaway to thieves that you’re not home, and also a further incentive for them to steal your parcels! So, be sure to cancel or delay any deliveries you’re expecting whilst you’re away.
3. Consider putting up fencing or metal gates
Thieves are less likely to want to break into a property with a gate and solid fencing around it; high boundary walls are even better if you have them, as they provide an even sturdier barrier between thieves and your valuables.
Reinforced metal security gates are just as secure if not more than a regular garden gate when paired with fencing. With a metal security gate protecting your property, rather than a standard garden gate, thieves will undoubtedly notice the money that's been spent on security and be put off.
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4. Invest in additional security measures
Fitting in CCTV cameras, smart lighting and sensors can greatly enhance your existing security measures. Thanks to advances in smart lighting technology, it's possible to set up an effective lighting system for minimal cost, providing a literal spotlight for anyone who dares to break in. It also gives you the freedom to set your lights on an automatic timer, making it look like someone is home to passers-by.
Additionally, installing CCTV can give you a live feed of your garden, broadcasted straight to your smartphone. You can get notified the moment someone unexpectedly walks through your front gates, with the camera being triggered and potentially identifying the perpetrator.
5. Don’t post on social media until your holiday is over
Another obvious but often overlooked tip is to avoid sharing your holiday ventures online and on social media until you’re back home. It sounds silly, but many thieves will use social media to scout potential victims, and once they see you’re out of the country, they will use that as their opportunity to make a move.
