At Christmas, we all expect Father Christmas to pay us a visit – but there is a much less welcome kind of visitor that may come to your house at this time of the year – burglars. Sadly, this time of year sees a huge boom in burglaries – the lure of expensive presents under the tree and people spending time away from home, as well as the long periods of darkness means that it is an ideal time for a burglar.
So here are a few things that you can do to make sure that your home is safe and secure from this unwelcome visitor.
Burglars like to use gardens to access the house as they have less chance of being spotted – keep an eye on your garden boundaries – make sure that your fence is secure and visit somewhere like this timber merchants Southampton based http://www.timbco.co.uk to get some wood in case you need to make repairs. You can also grow spiky plants like holly around the edges.
It is also a good idea to have a home security system – alarms or cameras are not only a great way to keep a close eye on your home, but they also work as a good burglar deterrent as they may well put someone off trying to enter your home when they see that it is secure.
If you are going to be away over the festive season, make sure you make the house look as if it is occupied – lights on timers help, as well as asking a neighbour to pop in and keep an eye on the place a couple of times a day.
Alarms, gardens and hiding the evidence
Burglary causes distress beyond the loss of belongings, as the sense that someone has invaded your home can be hard to shake off. Many people think little about security beyond locking the doors until it is too late, so it is worth taking a few steps now.
At Christmas, expensive gifts make homes particularly tempting. Do not leave boxes and packaging outside where they advertise what is inside, and make the house look occupied if you go away over the holidays.
A visible alarm is one of the most effective deterrents, and having it professionally installed ensures it works as it should. Do not overlook the garden either, as it is often a burglar’s preferred route in. Gravel paths around the house make it hard to approach quietly, and spiky bushes beneath windows and along boundaries discourage anyone looking for an easy way in. Small changes like these make your home a less attractive target than its neighbours.
Locks, alarms and careful rubbish disposal
Christmas is a hectic time and it is easy to forget the basics. Check that every door and window is locked, including those on upper floors, because a determined burglar can find a way in where you least expect it.
Security systems help in two ways. Cameras and alarms protect the house and record what happens, and simply being visible they act as a deterrent, encouraging a would-be burglar to move on.
Rubbish needs thought too. Thieves often look through bins to see what valuables a household has, and the boxes from a new television, laptop or games console tell them exactly what is inside. Where possible, keep packaging indoors until the day the bins are collected, and break boxes down so the contents are not obvious from the street. Small steps like these make your home a less tempting target over the festive period.
Cameras, timers and other simple deterrents
Long dark evenings, expensive presents in the house and trips away to see family make the festive season an easy time for burglars. Visible security helps. Cameras let you check on your property at any time, and many burglars will move on when they can see a house is covered by cameras and an alarm.
There are also plenty of cheap steps you can take yourself. Never announce on social media that you are going away, as this is one of the ways thieves learn that a house will be empty. Put lights on timers so rooms appear to be in use, and ask a neighbour to call round now and then. Check that every door and window lock works properly, and make the garden harder to get through with tall fences and prickly plants along the boundary.