A Burglary is not just for Holidays

The school holidays are fast approaching and lots of Mums and Dads will be manically rushing around the place trying to get those last minute jobs done before flying or driving off to some faraway destination for some relaxation or maybe even for some stress. Bet you can’t wait!

However, before you go can I please ask you to spare a thought for your local police who have already been promoting their holiday security advice for some weeks now. It would be a shame for all their efforts to fall on deaf ears, because they’re using taxpayer’s money after all! So, please do what you can to keep your home safe and save the Old Bill a whole lot of bother.

Mind you, getting your home security right before you go will save you a whole lot of bother and upset too, because let me assure you that if you’re planning for some relaxation while you’re away then this will soon be undone if you return home to find you’ve had a break-in

This is what will take place upon your return to a burgled home:

You’ll be upset about what has happened and angry at the burglars. You might feel frustrated with the neighbours for not realising your place was getting broken into and annoyed with yourself for not locking that garden shed (from which they got the spade to force open the back door).

You’ll be washing all that ‘touched’ underwear from the emptied out draw because that’s where you’d hidden the now missing jewellery box. Over the coming days and weeks you’ll be finding more things missing than you first realised and sleeping will be difficult, because you’ll have that uneasy and yet realistic fear that the burglars might be coming back (See Repeat Victimisation).  

Then you’ll have to wait in to meet with the police and admit that none of the property stolen can be identified. Afterwards there will be another stay at home for the police forensics guy to dab aluminium dust all over the paintwork only to find nothing of any use.

At some point you’ll find yourself meeting with several alarm company reps to discuss a new or improved alarm system and you might have to take a few hours off work to meet the locksmith who’s going to repair that back door.

Next up will be the sharp words you’ll have with the insurance lady who will not understand why you haven’t kept the receipts to prove the existence of the three hundred and fifty pounds worth of meat stolen from the freezer (in the shed). And just to rub salt in the wound the insurers won’t pay your claim because you had the wrong lock on the back door.

Finally there will be the inevitable blame game between Mum and Dad about why the other hadn’t done this or that.

You see, a burglary is not just for Holidays, it’s for a long and stressful time afterwards!

So, do yourself a favour and run through the check list below, because even if you are incredibly unlucky and suffer a burglary while you’re away at least you’ll know that you had done everything you could and the insurers will pay out.

Make sure the security of your home is up to scratch

• Is your security meeting the requirements of your Insurance Company’s conditions?
• Carry out the free Home Security Survey on this website and get your free home security report

What you may have to cancel

• Newspapers - and be careful who hears you in the shop
• Grocery deliveries
• Milk deliveries
• Window cleaner
• Appointments you made before you knew you were going on holiday

Who should you tell?

• The Police? Unfortunately a lot of police forces don't record information about unattended premises anymore, but you’ll have to check that out with your own local police service 
• Trusted neighbours and friends.  Leave them with your contact details, a spare set of keys and the PIN for your alarm
• Your alarm and or keyholding company.  Make sure they have up-to-date key holder details. Has the alarm been serviced? Update the local authority if you have registered your alarm with them

Arrange for some of these things to be done by your keyholders (You can return the favour)

• Pop in each day and draw the curtains
• Switch lights on and off
• Cut the grass
• Water some plants
• Move the car a bit
• Take in the mail and freebie newspapers. Consider using the Royal Mail's 'Keepsafe' service. For a small payment they will hold your mail for up to 2 months.
• Leave one of their cars on your driveway
• Do other things that make your place look occupied

What should you lock up or lock away?

• Garden and DIY tools that could be used to break into your home
• Garden furniture and the barbeque can be stored in a locked outbuilding
• The garden gate
• All outbuildings and the garage
• Protect valuable fish (See Property and plants at risk and what to do )
• All doors and windows
• Remove all keys from all locks and put them in the safe or hide them away and tell your key holders where you've hidden them
• Put car keys in the safe or leave with your friends or trusted neighbour
• Remove all items of value in view from your car

What should I put in the safe? (Preferably one that is insurance rated and has fire resistance)

• Valuable jewellery and small items that have sentimental value. (See Safes )
• Documents and other small valuables including keys, wills, house deeds, credit and store cards you're not taking with you
• Larger items of value, such as paintings should be hidden from obvious view or maybe placed in the loft. Your insurers may have laid down conditions and you should strictly adhere to them

What else should or could you do? 

• Phone the Bank and Credit Card Company to let them know when and where you will be to reduce the possibility of having your card stopped. They'll still tell you there's no guarantee that this won't happen but nevertheless you are protecting yourself from credit card fraud should this happen while you are away
• Operate some internal lights and one of those ‘fake TVs’ on time switches (See Internal lighting for the home )
• Operate some external lights on timers or solar switches (See External lighting for the home and garden ) and only light places that can be seen by a responsive witness; someone who actually calls the police.
• If your neighbours are unable to draw the curtains or close the blinds you could drape some netting fabric over the downstairs windows while you're away. Table lamps placed close to the netting can make it more difficult to peer through. Although expensive, you can purchase automatic closing devices for both curtains and blinds.
• Check expiry dates for car, home and holiday insurance cover
• Check expiry dates for car's Test Certificate (MOT) and Road Fund Licence
• Don't leave answer machine messages that indicate you're away on holiday. Can you transfer work calls to another number?

And finally

 Turn off the gas and water supply (if you are away for a long while as your insurers may require this – check the insurance conditions)

• Unplug all electrical devices that don't need to be on

Happy Holidays!