Around 800,000 households have fallen victim to burglary while they were away on holiday according to a leading home insurance provider. So how can you keep your property safe even when you’re not there?
According to the research June and August are the hotspots for burglary with more claims during these months than at any other time during the year. This year’s numbers are expected to rise further due to an overall increase in domestic burglaries since the onset of the recession.
Why home security is the key
The rise in burglaries during the summer months can be partly explained by homeowners failing to take preventative measures before they go away. There are actually a number of straightforward steps that can be taken to keep your home secure and greatly reduce the risk of burglary. These include:
- Lock all windows and doors before you leave the property – Carry out a thorough spot-check before you go away.
- Activate your burglar alarm – Any claims may be invalidated if you fail to turn a security system on.
- Give someone you trust your house key – Don’t leave a house key outside a property as thieves know where to look.
- Ask a neighbour/friend to help – If there is someone you trust with your key, ask them to enter your property as often as possible perhaps opening and closing curtains each day and collecting any mail.
- Cancel deliveries – Cancel milk and newspaper deliveries before you depart.
- Lock up – Make sure you lock away garden items or tools that could be used to break into a property and also securely lock any outbuildings.
- Be careful – Don’t discuss holiday plans in public as you never know who might be listening in.
How this can help earn cheap home insurance too
As an additional incentive to keep your property secure, bear in mind that good security measures can earn you discounts on your insurance premiums too.
