As soon as you head out on a vacation, it's common to find yourself overly concerned about matters back home, diverting attention and hindering the enjoyment of the trip. The prospect of returning from a memorable journey only to discover a serious issue at home can be truly distressing. To ensure a traveller's peace of mind, certain essential steps should be taken to safeguard their home while exploring the world. Here are some key recommendations:
Keep the window safe: Burglars often target windows for easier access compared to doors. Evaluate the exterior appearance of your windows and eliminate potential access points. Ensure there are no objects like walls, bins, or garden furniture that could facilitate unauthorised entry. Consider using laminated glass or security film, especially for ground floor and accessible windows. Install sash stops on windows to prevent them from being opened wide enough for entry. Additionally, secure upper windows with locks to deter burglars who may use ladders to access seemingly unlocked upper windows and avoid lower floor alarm sensors. Extend alarm sensor coverage to upper rooms for enhanced security.
Safety in a flat: While flats may have fewer entry points, it's crucial to ensure these are well protected. Residents play a role in overall building security by vigilant monitoring and reporting any issues. Communal doors should never be left open, and residents should remain attentive. Regular maintenance, including cutting back shrubs and plants, helps maintain visibility and ensures proper functioning of lighting and CCTV. Report any malfunctions or outages promptly to the managing agent or landlord. Secure hidden spaces like cycle stores, bin stores, sheds, and other covered areas to prevent loitering and antisocial behaviour, especially in the evenings.
Home shouldn’t look abandoned: Prepare your home before departure by mowing the lawn and trimming hedges to maintain a groomed appearance. Cancel regular deliveries like milk and newspapers. Keep some curtains and blinds open during the day to avoid indicating an empty house, but ensure no obvious signs of absence are visible, such as prolonged laundry or wilting pot plants. Request a neighbour's assistance in removing free newspapers and post from your doormat, especially if they can be seen through a glass panel or the letterbox. This added precaution helps create the illusion of an occupied home and deters potential intruders.
Security of home and valuables: Home security systems offer indoor, outdoor and doorbell surveillance cameras, smart locks, security alarms, remote monitoring, home automation and various other benefits. You can quite literally ensure the safety of your homes on your fingertips. To keep valuables safe, one should choose to keep them in security deposit boxes, use heavy-duty safes and even hidden safes if keeping important valuables in an empty home. Also, photograph and document the valuable details and
