Keep your home safe this holiday

26 July 2007

Check out our top home security tips

Keep it quiet
Don't broadcast the fact that you're leaving your house empty and, whatever you do, don't leave a key hidden outside the door! Instead, tell a trusted neighbour where you are going, and give them a key and your contact details in case of emergency.

Make your home appear lived-in
Nothing marks out an empty house like the absence of lights and sounds. Throw possible burglars off the scent by setting lights on a timer switch and adjusting the times to fit your usual routine. To make your home sound, as well as look lived in, consider investing in the Audio guard, £24.95 from www.audioguard.com, which uses four CDs to recreate everyday household noises.

Mark your property
A simple, but effective deterrent is to mark all valuable property with a UV pen. Write your postcode, followed by the number or name of your house on the base or back of each object, and display the stickers that usually come with the pens, (stating that your property is marked), in a prominent place.

Fit a safe
If you plan on leaving valuables, such as jewellery, credit cards or personal documents, at home, you might want to consider installing a safe. These can be purchased at a reasonable price from most good hardware stores.

Switch off
Before you leave, remember to unplug any electronic equipment that does not need to be left on, and make sure that plug switches are turned off.

Get an alarm
Statistics show that 60% of burglaries attempted on homes with burglar alarms were unsuccessful. Always choose a reputable NACOSS or SAAIB alarm installation company that's also registered with the police.

Lock it up
The final job, but certainly the most important - lock everything. Doors, windows, even the garden shed. If the house isn't properly secured, any losses you might suffer will not be covered by your insurance.

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