It’s the most wonderful time of the year. For burglars. Yes, Christmas is upon us; a time when we take time off work, spend more time (often an extended time) away from the home, and often leave that home full of expensive items, conveniently packaged up and disguised. A potential robber’s dream, make no mistake, and if you don’t want your festive season’s spirit dampened this year, it’s essential to stay aware and alert. So, with the help of Steve Harrison of Locksmith Coventry, here are 8 IDEAL ways to keep your home and family safe this Christmas.
DON’T SHOW OFF YOUR GIFTS
We know that a pile of wrapped presents under the tree looks really festive, but it also looks pretty darn attractive to potential burglars. The best thing to do with presents is to keep them hidden until just before the big day, but if you are desperate to get them out earlier at least make sure that they aren’t visible from outside your house.
DON’T FORGET TO LOCK UP
It’s not unusual over Christmas to be popping out to the shops or to parties, sometimes a mulled wine or two down, let’s be honest. But when you do go out, make sure to lock all your doors and windows. Because no lock is secure if it isn’t used. If you have guests staying with you, check that they’re as on the ball as you when it comes to locking up. If you’re worried about any locks or security issues, many locksmiths, for example the locksmith hollywood florida, carry out free home security audits, which are useful not only for the security aspect, but also to ensure insurance is currently not invalidated by faulty locks.
And finally, don’t be tempted to leave windows ajar in order to run cables out to external Christmas lights!
LET BURGLARS THINK THERE’S SOMEONE HOME
Leaving a light on when you’re out of the house can fool would-be burglars into thinking there’s someone home, and so discourage them from attempting a break-in. Better still, why not treat your home to an early Christmas present and invest in some light timers to switch lights on and off while you are away; a little more environmentally conscious than leaving lights on all the time, we think.
THINK ABOUT OUTDOOR LIGHTING
Another way to discourage burglars is to limit the amount of dark space there is around your property, in the back garden, in bushes, around blindspots in the fencing…you get the picture. The best option here is movement-sensitive security lights that will switch on if they detect someone around your home. Lighting up dark passageways, for example, at the side of your property, can also make you feel safer in general when coming and going late at night.
BE CAREFUL ON SOCIAL MEDIA
There are a couple of things to be cautious of when posting on social media. Firstly, although it’s tempting to show people the great presents that you received, you are also potentially advertising the fact that you have some very tempting things for burglars to steal. Think before you post, and make sure they’re not public or shared on local groups. Secondly, it’s wise to avoid highlighting times when you’ll be away from home, for example by ‘checking in’ to holiday resorts or hotels, essentially advertising the fact your property is currently unoccupied.
CONSIDER HOW YOU DISPOSE OF PACKAGING
Again, piling up gift boxes outside your home is an invitation to potential burglars who can see exactly what goodies lie waiting in your home. When you’ve removed packaging from presents, cut up any boxes so that they can all be disposed of inside recycling bags/bins, or black bin bags as appropriate. A simple measure, but a safe one.
ORGANISE YOUR DELIVERIES
Whether you’re buying gifts online or from the shops themselves, if you’re having anything delivered to your door, try and make sure that someone is home to take in the delivery and reduce the risk of the package being left somewhere visible where it can be swiped away swiftly. Burglars are known to target Christmas gifts in this way.
Alternatively, arrange to have parcels delivered to your workplace if possible (unless you work in an office of burglars, that is) or use the ‘add delivery instructions’ feature that many retailers offer. This allows you to select a secure location for the item to be placed, or even for it to be left with a trusted neighbour.
MAKE FRIENDS WITH YOUR LOCAL EMERGENCY LOCKSMITH
It can be difficult to find a reliable locksmith at short notice, particularly one who’s available over the holiday period. Anticipate any problems prior to them occurring by finding a local locksmith who offers an emergency service and keeping them on speed dial. An emergency locksmith is invaluable if you get locked out of your home, or to secure your home in the event of a break-in.