Reminder to residents to consider home security when homes left unoccupied
Posted on October 11 2012
Local police officers would like to remind residents to consider home security when heading off for an autumn break.
Burglaries at properties left unoccupied whilst the owners are away have increased recently. If you are going away for any length of time please consider how your house appears to an opportunist thief. Try to make your home look occupied so it isn’t an easy target.
- Ask a trusted neighbour or relative to open and close your curtains for you.
- Ask a neighbour if they don’t mind parking their car on your driveway and trimming your garden to make your home look occupied.
- Cut the front and back lawns before you go away and trim any plants that burglars could hide behind.
- Cancel milk and newspaper deliveries.
- Before you go don’t advertise that you are going away on social media sites like Facebook or Twitter.
- Register for the Royal Mail ‘Keepsafe’ service where they will keep your mail for up to two months.
- Leave important documents and valuable personal items with other family members or a bank.
- Double-check that you’ve locked all outside windows and doors.
- Set your burglar alarm.
- Use timer units on plug in lights or even radios to make it seem that someone is in.
- Don’t put your home address on your luggage when you are travelling to your holiday destination. A house number and postcode will suffice if you want to label your luggage.