Make sure the burglars don’t enjoy your holiday
It’s holiday time for many. But not for the nation’s burglars. They’ll be working overtime to steal as much as they can from homes left empty. A combination of unoccupied properties and daylight until late is honey to housebreakers.
Most burglars are opportunists – a window or door left vulnerable is their golden invitation.
Taking simple precautions can dramatically cut the chances that an unwelcome visitor will target your valuables. The first line of defence is to lock all your doors and windows. Never leave keys for windows in sight.
If you have recently moved, change all locks. You do not know where keys from previous residents have ended up.
And if you’ve lived in your home a long time, consider upgrading your defences. Take advice from a locksmith. The Which? Trusted Trader website can help – look for membership of the Master Locksmith Association. Never advertise you are away. Curtains or shutters that stay closed are give away signals. Timers are an inexpensive way of ensuring lights go on and off for a few hours each evening. Cancel deliveries such as milk, newspapers, or vegetable boxes. Don’t leave gardens untended. Mowing the lawn before you go out not only keeps your outdoor space tidy – it makes it look as though someone is at home. And resist the temptation to tell the world you are off for six weeks around South America – or even just a week in Spain. You never know who might be listening, or reading your social media pages – burglars can access Twitter, Facebook and other sites just as easily as your friends. Never leave keys or valuables where they can be seen or reached through a letterbox. Thieves are skilled at hooking car keys and stealing vehicles – some motor insurances might not pay out if you have failed to take precautions. Burglars want small, expensive items such as jewellery or cash. They often head straight to bedrooms hoping for an easy to remove safe – ensure a locksmith bolts it onto an exterior wall with security fittings. Housebreakers know hiding places – putting jewellery or cash in a fake tin in the fridge rarely fools them.
Burglary rates have fallen for the past 20 years, according to the Office of National Statistics. In part, it’s thanks to better locks and less carelessness. But it’s also because the old classic theft – television, DVD player and hi-fi – is no longer worth it.
Most electronic gear fetches little or nothing – who wants a nicked DVD player when new ones cost so little?