Brits have been warned not to give an open invitation to criminals with the common holiday habit
With the summer holidays fast approaching, Brits might be within touching distance of a sunny change of scenery that has been months in the planning. But experts have warned that there’s one thing you should hold off doing that could otherwise end up costing you thousands.
Whether you’re heading abroad or staycationing in the UK, summer is unfortunately prime time for burglaries. The season offer plenty of tempting opportunities for cunning thieves to ransack your home – especially if they know it is going to be empty.
Break-ins are costing households an average of £3,896 – with 723 burglaries happening every day. Google searches for “home security tips” have surged 5,000% in the last month alone, ahead of the peak holiday travel season.
To help homeowners stay one step ahead, property expert Alison MacLean at St. Modwen Homes has shared her top tips – including some simple and low-cost ways to make your home look lived-in while you’re away. One common habit that most people cannot often help is posting about their holiday on social media whilst they are still away.
Alison said: “It might be tempting to share your travel plans or post beach snaps while you’re away, but it’s safer to wait until you’re home. Public posts can alert thieves to an empty house – giving them information on exactly when to break in.”
Thieves will look for key signs that nobody is at home, such as letters piling up or lights always being off. If you can, get a friend or family member to pop in and move the post from the doorstep, or invest in some timers to trigger lights going on and off at night.
Criminals will have no shame in using your own tools and equipment to make breaking and entering easy for them. Always lock away garden tools and ladders securely when not in use. Consider putting some motion sensor lights around entry points for further deterrents.
Beyond trying to trick burglars from the outside, it is also still very important to make sure everything is safe and secure on the inside of your home, too. For example, make sure that all doors and windows are securely shut and (if possible) locked, as, according to Alison, these are “some of the most common entry points” for burglars to use as they are often overlooked.
Beefing up security may also be enough to put off any wannabe thieves. A visible camera or alarm system can be a strong deterrent as the house immediately becomes more of a risky target to break into.
People might want to look for options that send alerts straight to their phone, so they can keep an eye on things wherever they are. If new security solutions aren’t quite in the summer budget, realistic-looking false cameras have also been successful at detering burglaries, according to the expert, and they come at a substantially cheaper price point than the real deal.
Alison added: “Taking a few simple steps to secure your home before you go away can save you a lot of stress (and potentially money) later on. Summer should be a time to enjoy yourself, not worry about what’s happening back at home. A bit of forward planning now can make all the difference.”
