Keeping your home safe while you are on Holiday

Holidays are a time to enjoy the company of your loved ones and relax for a while. But, if you’re going on a trip, you may find your peace disturbed by worries about home. You may be concerned about break-ins and this can leave you more stressed than when you left.

The best way to deal with these worries is to install a good home security system that includes security alarm systems. This can help you rest at ease while you’re away on holiday.

The following tips for what to do before leaving on your holiday can also relieve any home security worries.

Lock everything

It’s simple advice but it doesn’t mean it should be overlooked: lock all doors and windows. Sometimes in the excitement or rush to leave, a door or window is left unlocked and becomes a point of entry for a home intruder.

You should lock not only the main doors to your house, but any ground floor doors and windows. Burglars will try all possible entry points.

You can also consider upgrading your locks. A factor in many home robberies is faulty locks or improperly secured doors and windows. Upgrade your locks to deadlocks and make sure all doors and windows shut firmly without any gaps an intruder could take advantage of. And don’t forget to lock them before you leave.

Invest in a reliable security system with CCTV surveillance

A reliable security system equipped with a CCTV surveillance system can ensure the safety of your house and its belongings while you’re on holidays. Burglars typically target houses without obvious security systems.

Alarms and CCTV systems can make noise and alert neighbours and police to a robbery taking place. This can increase the chances of a would-be burglar being caught or scaring them off before they take anything.

Many systems also allow you to view cameras in real-time from anywhere in the world, so you can check everything is fine while you’re away.

Motion sensor lights

While not all home invasions occur at night, many do. Darkness is an excellent cover for burglars to go unnoticed.

However, you can make a night-time break-in more difficult by installing motion sensor lights. These lights turn on automatically when a small movement is sensed. Therefore, a scouting burglar will activate these lights and find themselves under a spotlight. They will likely leave before they can be caught by a neighbour or the police.

Timed lights and television

Many burglars will watch a place for regular signs of occupants before attempting a robbery. When you’re away on holiday, your home may stand out from others on the street. This may be because no lights come on at night and no sound comes from the house. A quiet, dark house is a burglar’s dream.

You can, however, trick burglars by investing in timers for lights and electronics. This creates the illusion that someone is home. Set timers for lights and the TV or radio to start at dusk and to stay on until you would usually go to bed.

When setting timers for lights, ensure no one can easily see into the room to confirm that no one is there. Drawing curtains or blinds can be a way to still have light showing without revealing that no one is home.

Set regular check-ins

If you’re worried that your home may seem unoccupied, you can organise for friends and family to drop by the house while you are away. Have them stop by every couple of days to gather the mail and papers. An overflowing letterbox or a stack of unopened newspapers is a clear sign that no one is home.

You could even offer for friends and family to stay at your house for a few nights or the entire time while you’re away. Make sure they know to lock up the house as securely as you left it.

Additionally, you can offer your driveway as a place for your neighbours to park. A car in the driveway makes it seem like someone is home.

Keep valuables out of sight

Keeping expensive or valuable items in plain sight from ground floor windows is like baiting a burglar. Hide any valuables, such as electronics or jewellery.

If you’re particularly concerned, it can be a good idea to invest in a safe. Consider where you install the safe to avoid it becoming a target for thieves though. Many people put safes in bedrooms so try putting it somewhere else out of the way. Have a look at Top Tips for Home Security Camera Placement

Final thoughts

It’s better to be proactive than reactive when it comes to home security and these tips will help you avoid any kind of home intrusion while you’re on holiday. Trust in a security alarm system and these handy tips so you can take some much needed time to relax while on holiday.