1. Make your home look occupied
An empty home can be an open invitation to burglars. The secret is not to draw their attention in the first place.
They’ll be looking for the following tell-tale signs:
Post piling up
Deliveries sitting by the front door
An empty drive with no car outside
No lights on at night or lights that are obviously running on a timer
Overgrown plants or a lawn that needs mowing
Rubbish bins that haven’t been emptied or returned to their normal position after a period of time.
All of these are a potential giveaway. To minimise the risks of a break in, give a trusted neighbour, family member or friend a spare key and ask them to pop in from time to time. They can open and close the curtains, turn lights on and off, collect your mail and manage your bins – and if they can park their car in your drive too, even better.
If you want to go one step further, you could arrange for a house sitter to stay in your home while you’re away. This could be a friend or family member.
Make sure you cancel any regular deliveries, such as milk or your daily newspaper delivery – and don’t order anything online that may arrive while you’re away.
If there’s no helpful neighbour to hand, Royal Mail offers a Keepsafe service that will hold you mail for up to 100 days and deliver it to you once you’re home.
2. Lock up
It may sound like a no-brainer, but people forget to prioritise home security when on holiday. It’s a mistake that could invalidate their home insurance policy, as some will only cover burglary claims if there are signs of forced or violent entry.
Before you leave your home:
Make sure all windows and doors are locked before you leave – with locks approved by your home insurance provider.
Secure any garages, sheds and outbuildings.
Keep tools locked away so they can’t be used to break into your home. If you’ve no option but to leave a ladder outside, ensure it’s secured in a fixed location, away from any potential entry points, with a padlock and chain.
3. Hide your valuables
Keep your valuable items, including computers and laptops, out of sight or lock them away if possible.
Having a fitted safe can be a good investment. Just make sure it’s fixed securely in place, as smaller models are an obvious target for thieves and easy to steal.
4. Get an alarm system
Depending on the insurance provider, having a burglar alarm may reduce your home insurance premiums. Even if it doesn’t, it’s still likely to cut the risks of being burgled.
There are different types of burglar alarms available, making it easier to find one that suits your budget and the level of security you’re after.
Bell-only alarms come with various motion sensors connected to a central control panel and can be either wireless (battery-powered) or wired in, which requires professional installation.
Monitored alarm systems connect with an alarm-receiving centre (ARC), from which a staff member will call or text you or a chosen keyholder if the alarm goes off. They may also contact the police.
Smart burglar alarms are managed with an app and you’ll get alerts if the alarm is triggered. They are part of your smart home hub set-up and can be integrated with a range of devices including security cameras, motion detectors and voice commands.
Weigh the cost of a home security system against the value of your possessions and look for models accredited by either the National Security Inspectorate (NSI) or the Security System and Alarms Inspectorate Board (SSAIB).
5. Secure your doors
In 2020, according to the Office for National Statistics, 76% of intruders who gain access to a private residence did so through the door.
The strongest doors are made of solid wood, or for a longer-lasting alternative, try a composite door that is made up of several different materials. It’s likely to be thicker than others on the market and could come with the latest locking mechanisms – just make sure it meets PAS 24 British Security Standards and has a Secured by Design accreditation.
If the composite option is too pricey, a uPVC version is a cheaper alternative and new models are likely to come with an anti-snap lock, as well as a multi-point locking system, to help keep intruders out.
It’s also a good idea to avoid glass panels or opt for reinforced glass, which will be harder to break. You can fit a letterbox guard too, which stops people looking inside or reaching in to steal keys from a nearby hook or shelf.
Visit the Metropolitan Police website for more door security advice.
6. Don't advertise your absence on social media
Be careful what you post on social media. If you mention on your Facebook or Instagram account that you’re jetting off, it could give potential thieves the green light to pop round. Leave posting photos and videos until your return.
Similarly, talking about your forthcoming holiday in a local shop or public space – where you could easily be followed home – is best avoided.
7. Get the support of your community
For extra peace of mind, join a Neighbourhood Watch scheme, if there’s one in your area. If there isn’t, you could set one up. It doesn’t have to involve a lot of people – it could just cover your street.
8. Turn the water off
Keeping your home safe doesn’t just mean securing it against theft. Water damage can be just as costly – and even a small leak, left for a week or two, can have costly implications if it turns into a flood.
If you’re away for a while, turn off your water at your inside stop valve. You’ll find a helpful guide on how to do this on the Thames Water website.
Before you go away, check your buildings insurance to make sure you’re covered for burst pipes and water leaks. Most policies include it as standard, but always read the small print to make sure.
9. Unplug electricals
Leaving gadgets charging or on stand-by uses electricity, so turning them off will save you money on your energy bill and reduce the risk of fire while you’re on holiday.
Unplug everything you can at the wall – with the exception of the fridge/freezer, unless empty.
Before you go away, make sure your home insurance covers fire damage – and remember, most policies won’t cover your property if it’s left unoccupied for more than 30 consecutive days.
10. Going on an extended trip?
If you’re intending on staying away for longer than 30 days, you’ll need to tell your insurance provider, or your policy may be invalid.
For long trips, consider unoccupied property insurance, which could cover your home for longer periods against fire, flood and storm damage, vandalism and theft or attempted theft.
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