Overview and key points
With the summer months here and many people looking to book their holidays, therein lies the risk of being a victim of crime. This is especially so if the house is unoccupied for any period of time, particularly if you haven’t conducted the necessary precautions.
Make sure your home looks occupied
- Get trusted friends or neighbours to open and close curtains.
- Use automatic time switches to turn on lights and a radio. Don’t just use a light in the hallway or landing, set timers in the lounge and at least two bedrooms timed differently
- Tune the radio to a talk station and turn up reasonably loud so it can be heard if someone comes to the front or rear door
- Cut the lawns before you go
- Cancel deliveries of milk, newspapers, etc
Only tell those that you must
- Do not post anything on social media. There are various organised crime gangs that scour Facebook and other platforms to identify when people are away from their homes. One leading insurer is declining cover to those who post such open information
- Out of office message on email? Don’t state you are away on holiday!
- Getting to the airport. Ask a friend to take you or use a reliable taxi company that you have used before
- If you park your car at the airport, take off your house keys and give your friends address (make sure they aren’t on holiday at the same time)
- Baggage tags. With their permission, put your relative’s or friend’s address on tags. Savvy burglars sometimes carry out surveillance at airports. Your address on a bag may indicate your home is empty
Look at your home through the eyes of a criminal
- Do you need to fit additional locks or take measures to improve general security?
- Lock all outside doors and windows
- Don’t leave valuable items visible
- Place all valuable items in an insurance approved safe or if available, at a bank safety deposit
- Make sure you set the alarm and CCTV and be sure to inform the company who the key
holder is.
Make sure your home insurance cover is up to date. Talk to our friendly team for a review of your sums insured today.