Things to do before you go
Even if you’ve no one that you want to trust with things while you’re on holiday, there are a number of common sense things you can do to help reduce the risk of your house being a target for thieves.
1) If you have things delivered, make sure you cancel them. You don’t want newspapers building up where they might be seen, or bottles of milk accumulating on your step. Think about any deliveries that might have been scheduled, you don’t want a parcel left outside for a period of time.
If you’re worried about your post, Royal Mail do offer a “Keepsafe” service which will postpone deliveries while you’re away.
2) Outside, mowing your lawn before you go away in the summer could help prevent your garden resembling a field while you’re away.
3) If you’re concerned that the exterior of your house is dark, consider installing some movement sensitive security lighting.
4) Lock up. Yes, this sounds obvious, but check your windows as well as your doors and don’t forget any outbuildings, sheds, garages and so on.
5) Don’t leave spare keys under plant pots or large stones. You may think your hiding place is original, but a determined thief will almost certainly find them if they decide to go looking.
6) Inside the house, you could consider some timer plugs that would allow you to turn lamps on and off at different times, giving the house the appearance of being occupied.
7) Hide or lock your valuables away. The sentimental loss is probably even more damaging than the physical loss in the event of a burglary. Insurance might replace your laptop, but nothing can replace the photos you had stored on it.
Potentially, consider moving valuables to a relative’s or a close friend’s house for safekeeping. Make sure your items are covered though before you do this. Often, insurance policies only cover items in the home as standard.