The festive period is one of our favourite times of year. Bright lights, cheery music, gifts, and the general feeling of good cheer that everyone seems to keep going despite the better cold that’s starting to bite. It’s also one of our busiest times of year. You see, Christmas (and just after) is prime time for burglars to dust off their tools and go housebreaking. After all, everyone’s just opened up their gifts, some of which will be very expensive. So why not play Mr Grinch, and attempt to steal Christmas?

Can you stop them? The good news is that yes, you can! It just takes a little bit of thought and planning. So if you want to make sure that a break in doesn’t ruin your Christmas this year, just think WISH.

W – Windows

Burglars are a lazy lot – they don’t want houses that are a lot of work to break into. Instead, they look for the easiest way into your property, which usually means doors or windows that are open, or ground floor windows they can force. Or, one that you’ve left open. That might seem like a silly thing to do, and something you would never forget before you go out. But if you’re one of the millions of people who feed an extension cable through the window to power their outside Christmas lights, then it’s all too easy to forget. If you’re going out, close and lock all of the windows, even if it means turning your festive display off for a few hours.

I – Illuminate

The brighter, the better! Burglars aren’t big fans of light after all. Their work is best done in the dark, or hidden away where they can’t be seen. So if your home (mainly the outside) is lit up, it’s a much less appealing target. Floodlights attached to motion sensors are a great option here. If you can’t cover the whole outdoor area,  just make sure you have some pointing at the key access areas of your property. For the inside, you can get timers for lights that can be programmed to turn off and on at certain times, so it looks like you’re home even when you’re not.

S – Social

Speaking of knowing when you’re home, that stereotype of burglars creeping through the house while you sleep is a bit out of date. While some cat burglars do try their luck this way, most prefer to do their thieving when there’s no one in. The festive season is actually a great time to do this, because you’ll be out a lot more than usual. Attending festive events, visiting family, or travelling.

So don’t advertise it for them! 65% of people are burglarised by someone they know, which means they’ll probably be on your social media friends list. Posting that you’re out for the night or away for the holidays is just letting them know that they can come on in and help themselves.  We know it’s hard, but try to avoid posting where you are on social media during this time, at least until you’re safely back home.

H – Hide

Christmas means presents! And the closer it gets to Christmas, the more packed houses become. All of those gifts just waiting to be delivered on Christmas Day, or being scattered open around the living room after the day. But that doesn’t mean you should make a display of them. Keep presents out of sight before Christmas (so no piling them up under the tree until Santa has been!), and keep them hidden after the Christmas celebrations are done.

Bonus Tip – Recycling

That last point doesn’t just apply to the presents themselves. After you’re done unwrapping and playing, you’ll need to get rid of all the packaging for those presents. Since most products now come in cardboard boxes for easy recycling, that means a trip to the recycling bin. But we’d recommend against it. Recycling bins are like a catalogue for burglars – they love to have a good rummage through and see what goodies you have in your house. So instead, we recommend breaking down all of the cardboard from your presents and popping it in a bag, and taking it to your local recycling centre once they’re open again. If you can’t manage that, then making sure you break down boxes and don’t pile them next to bins or sheds is a close second.

And of course, look at getting a security system. Studies have shown that one of the most effective burglar deterrents is the installation of security cameras – which reduce the risk of break-ins by 90%. A good security system can keep intruders at bay all through the year, and make sure that your family always has a merry, and secure Christmas. If you would like to know more, or want a quote to secure your home this festive season, just get in touch with Securifix today.