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How to: Keep your property safe?

Posted on Thursday 20th November 2014


With the holiday season just around the corner, many of us will soon be heading off on holiday or to be with family and friends to enjoy the break. To ensure that your home is safe and sound while you’re away, see these common-sense tips:

1. Know your neighbours

Your neighbours can be your biggest asset if you tend to be away from home frequently. You’ll be able to keep an eye on each other’s properties. Let your neighbours know if you have workmen or builders coming. That way, any unusual activity will be noticed. Nosey neighbours are a brilliant deterrent for thieves so make sure you have yours on side.

2. Invest in security screens

It’s worth dropping a bit of extra coin on sturdy security-grade screens for your house.
Make sure what you’re buying is a legitimate security screen. The screens should not be glued in place. Your house doesn’t need to look like a jail but the screens should be robust enough to slow down criminals so there is more chance of them being seen loitering around your house rather than slipping in unnoticed through a cheap, easily removable screen.

3. Get deadbolts fitted to doors

Dead bolt locks are a must have for home security. Unlike spring bolt locks that can be opened using force, a dead lock can only be moved by rotating the lock cylinder, making it difficult for anyone to get through the door without the correct key. Dead locks are essential for all homes and especially those that are frequently unoccupied during the holiday season.

4. Keep your holiday movements off social media

It’s really tempting to take picture of a road sign that’s miles away from your home and hashtag it ‘#holiday’ on your social media streams but thieves are getting more and more clever. They can figure out where people live, what their names are and exactly where they’ve been on holiday, simply by viewing their social media feed. It’s fine to post some holiday snaps but be a bit elusive about where you are, for how long, and whether your home is empty. Just to be on the safe side.

5. Put timers on electrical appliances

Life is busy and some days you may only be at home for a few hours to sleep. If you have a busy schedule it can be a good idea to use electrical timers to make it look like someone’s home.
Head to your local hardware store and stock up on a few electrical timers. Put them on selected lights – maybe the bedroom and the kitchen – and one on the radio. Set them to mimic a typical evening of pottering around and TV watching. It will be a fantastic deterrent for anyone who may be casing your house for any movements.

6. Keep your garden tidy

A messy garden can make it look like no one’s home – or been home for a while.
Make sure you keep your garden neat and tidy, that way there’ll be no confusion from people thinking you’re away.

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