We all love Christmas. As soon as Halloween is over Christmas starts to appear, with festive decorations in shops, Santa’s grottos advertising spaces and Christmas songs on the radio. But remember that while you’re gleefully anticipating Christmas, so are thieves.
The Christmas season is prime time for thieves in the UK. Last year there was a substantial increase in insurance claims for burglaries, and the rate of break-ins rises sharply by 20% at this time of year. With people spending longer out of their homes at parties or visiting relatives, burglars take the opportunities where they can get them. So, if you want to keep your home and belongings safe this year, you need to make sure you aren’t giving them that opportunity. Luckily, there are some really simple things you can do to increase your festive security and deter burglars from your home. In fact, there are so many that we’ve had to split this post into 2 parts!
Don’t Leave Presents Under The Tree
The traditional Hallmark Christmas image of presents piled up under the tree might look beautiful and get you in the Christmas spirit, but it’s essentially ringing a big bell for burglars, especially if your tree is visible from the windows. Stacks of presents are tempting to steal, and advertise the fact that you have money and possibly valuable items inside the house. So even if you’re all grown-up, save putting the presents under the tree for Christmas Eve.
Lights And Curtains
It’s an old piece of advice to leave a few lights on when you go out in the evening, or put them on timers if you’ll be away for a while. Even the police recommend this every year as a way of deterring burglars, since it makes it look like there is someone home. But if you’re going to do this, give some thought to which lights you leave on, as it can make your valuables more visible to thieves, not less. To get around it, make sure you have the curtains drawn or blinds closed as well as the light being on.
Recycle Festive Waste Properly
One Christmas has passed and everyone has opened their presents, there will be a lot of cardboard to dispose of. Common practice is to put most of it in your recycle bin, and fold up any bigger boxes to leave next to your recycling bin on bin day for collection. But while it might be convenient, this advertises to anyone walking past what kind of valuables you have in your home. Some burglars will even go through recycling bins at this time of year as part of scoping out a property to see what valuables you have inside. So instead, take all of your cardboard and packaging to your local recycling centre instead.
Don’t Forget Your Outbuildings
While most people are aware that locking and double locking your doors is basic home security, many people forget to do the same in their outbuildings. Sheds and garages are tempting for thieves because they often contain tools and ladders that they can use to access your home. So make sure you have secure locks on your outbuildings at a minimum. You should also consider keeping valuables like bicycles chained up, and investing in a shed alarm and motion controlled lighting to deter burglars further.
That’s all for part 1 – stay tuned for part 2 and more festive security tips. At Securifix your home security is our top priority. That’s why we offer free security consultations and advice, as well as a free walk-around of your property to identify any risk points you may want to address. If you would like to know more, or talk about installing your own home a security system, just get in touch with the team today.
