How to Avoid Being Burgled When You Go Away on Holiday

When summer comes around each year, many thousands of us pack our bags and head off on holiday to relax and enjoy ourselves in a new and exciting location. With the kids off school and the weather warm and sunny, it’s a great time to take a well-deserved break.

Unfortunately, the summer holidays are also high season for thieves. They know full well that lots of people will be away from their homes at this time of year, and they cannot resist the opportunity to help themselves to the contents of an unattended house.

In a recent survey by a national insurance company, 37% of homeowners who had been burgled while holidaying admitted they could have done more to secure their house against intruders. There are a number of things you can do to make your home safer, and this article will share a few ideas to help you reduce the chances of being burgled while you are away.

1. Ask a trusted friend, neighbour, or relative to keep an eye on your house while you are away. Give them a front door key and ask them to occasionally go round and check if everything’s ok. They can also help by opening the curtains in the daytime and closing them in the evening, as the more signs of life there are at a property, the less likely a burglar is to attempt a break-in.

2. Lock all windows and doors before you leave. A window left ajar, even if it is upstairs, is an open invitation for opportunistic thieves to get in and out of your home with ease.

3. Before you leave, set timers for lights and radios. Again, if you are able to give burglars the impression your house is actually occupied the whole time, they will not see your home as an easy target, and will move on to other more vulnerable looking properties.

4. Ensure that garden tools and equipment that thieves could use to help break-in are not left lying in either the garden or the shed. A ladder sat there on the grass outside your house may be too tempting an invitation for a passing burglar to turn down!

5. Arrange for a locksmith to visit your property and perform a security check. They will inspect your property, identify any weak points and instruct you on any changes that need to be made to keep your home as secure as possible. It might be that your locks need upgrading, or you need a burglar alarm or security light to deter thieves – whatever the issues, the locksmith will identify them and give you a quote for how much it will cost to complete the work.

By following these guidelines, you will minimise the risk of coming back from holiday and finding your house has been ransacked and your belongings gone. If the worst should happen though, remember that once you have notified the police you should call a locksmith to replace your locks and stop the intruders coming back for a second time.