23 Jun Going On Holiday? Stay One Step Ahead of Burglars with These Top Home Security Tips
Holiday season is just around the corner, and whether it be for a staycation or jetting off to a different country, we can sometimes spend what is supposed to be a time to relax, worrying about back home. In the UK, searches for ‘home security whilst on holiday’ have skyrocketed by 250% in the last year.
Whether it’s for when you go on that long-awaited holiday, or just for that everyday piece of mind, experts at Express Bi-Folding Doors have explained how you can easily keep your home secure and safe from burglars and thieves.
1. Make sure your door is fully secure
This may be an obvious one, however there are many other ways to ensure your doors are secure than just keeping them locked.
If you’re planning on having your doors replaced in the future, especially your external doors, make sure that your hinges are on the inside. This is because having your hinges exposed make it much easier for burglars to physically remove your door. You could also consider installing a door with a multi-locking system.
However, if you can’t replace your door – it’s important to check your current locks for their security rating to ensure it matches the recommended level.
2. Make sure your windows and doors are more private
Simply increasing the privacy of your home is also a great way to deter burglars – a great long-term way of increasing your privacy is by planting trees around your perimeter. Using evergreen trees doesn’t only give you protection year-round but also provides a lovely view out of your windows.
You could also consider using privacy window film – which is widely available and prevents anyone from looking in. The film is easy to put on and take off your windows – so if you didn’t want to have it on all the time, you could always leave it on whilst you’re on holiday and take it off when you return home.
3. Don’t hide a spare key outside
There’s nothing worse than coming home after a long day at work to come to realise that you’re locked out, and whilst you think this could be avoided by hiding a spare key under a rock, the rug or a nearby plant pot, know that it’s very likely a thief would find it.
If you are worried about being locked out, or want to just make it easier if you’re having someone to look after your home whilst you’re away, consider installing a key-safe somewhere out of sight of your front door. The safe should be security approved and accessible with a code making it a great place to put a spare key.
4. Make your home visible.
Why this might almost feel like something you shouldn’t be doing, making sure that your front garden is open and visible can eliminate hiding spots and access points for thieves. You can do this by lining the garden with thorny shrubs which can also put them off trying to break in or hide.
Another element to consider is potentially having a gravel drive or pathway, which could act as a noise deterrent.
Easy ways to protect your home on holiday.
The above tips may feel like big, more long-term changes you must make to your home to keep it safe, however there are smaller things you can do and take into consideration before going abroad to make sure your house doesn’t get targeted by burglars.
One of the main ways to deter burglars is to make it look as if someone is still at home. However, with the current electricity prices the last thing we want to be doing is leaving our lights on the whole time we’re away. Using timers or smart plugs to turn your lamps on at night is an easy and more energy efficient way to do this.
Cancelling regular deliveries, such as milk, means they won’t build up outside your door and make it obvious that there is nobody home.
Whilst you might think you can trust people online it’s still important to avoid posting your holiday plans on any public profiles, as you never know who might see them!
Leaving your car on your drive is another easy way to make it look like there’s somebody at home – if you’re taking your car with you, you can always offer out the space to a neighbour.
Keeping your garden tidy, especially if you’re away for a prolonged amount of time, is another great way to make it look as if someone is at home – an unkempt garden can make burglers think there’s nobody home.
