Leaving your House Unoccupied
| Published: 5th August 2008 14:41 |
Everyone needs a holiday some time but unfortunately almost half of all burglaries happen when a flat or house is empty. By following these simple tips, you can help to make your home secure while you are away:
- Make sure your home looks like someone is living in it. Don't close your curtains - in daytime this shows the house is empty. Think about getting automatic time-switches to turn your lights on when it goes dark.
- Fit mortice locks or bolts to all outside doors, and locks to all downstairs or easily accessible windows.
- Cancel any milk or newspaper deliveries.
- Cut the lawn before you go and trim back any plants that burglars could hide behind.
- Get a friend or neighbour to look after your home. They can collect your mail; mow your lawn and so on. This gives the impression that someone is living in your home. If you leave keys with a neighbour, don't label them with your address.
- Don't leave valuables, like your TV, hi-fi or video, where people can see them through windows.
- Mark any valuable items with your postcode and house number using an 'invisible' pen that you can get from DIY shops. If your property is stolen, this will help the police to identify it if it is found, which might not only allow them to return it to you but could also provide them with better evidence to convict the people responsible.
- Make sure that you have up-to-date contents insurance.
- Do not put your home address on your luggage when you are travelling to your holiday destination.
- Lock the garage and shed with proper security locks, after putting all your tools safely away so they cannot be used to break into your house. If you have to leave a ladder out, put it on its side and lock it to a secure fixture with a 'close shackle' padlock or heavy-duty chain.
- Finally, lock all outside doors and windows. If you have a burglar alarm, make sure it is set and that you have told the police who has the key.
Is there a Neighbourhood Watch scheme where you live? Your local police Community Contact Officer will tell you if there is a scheme in your area or help you set up one of your own. It could help you keep your home secure while you're away, and has many other crime prevention and community benefits.
Kind Regards,
PCSO 7308 Sharon Marsh
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