Planning a holiday this summer? Whether you’re visiting relatives at Christmas or going on a summer road trip with your mates, most of us will leave our homes unattended at some point. With the holiday season just around the corner, now is the time to start thinking about home security while you are away. Planning ahead and taking a few simple security measures will ensure that your home remains safe and you aren’t faced with a nightmare end to your holiday.
Make Friends With Your Neighbours
Letting a trusted neighbour know that you are going away has many benefits. A neighbour can collect your mail, remove any parcels and keep an eye on your house for any suspicious activity from time to time. This is especially important if there is no clear line of sight to your house from the street. Your neighbour might even be willing to park their car in your driveway!
Invest In Automated Lights
Home automation allows you to control the operations of your home remotely. Not only does this make your life easier day-to-day, but when you are on holiday, you can easily create the impression that someone is home. Set your indoor and outdoor lights to come on and off at certain times, open the blinds or turn the TV on, all from an app on your phone. Just make sure you mix up the times. If someone is watching your house, they will notice that the lights come on and off at the same time every day.
Update Your Alarm System
Home security systems have come a long way and it is now possible to monitor your home from your phone wherever you are in the world. With a smart home security system you can:
- Arm and disarm your alarm
- Remotely open doors
- Monitor cameras from your phone
- Hear and speak to people on your property
Stay Off Social Media
Posting exotic pics of your holiday destination might be tempting, but it is not smart. Advertising that you are away on holiday on social media is an invitation to thieves to help themselves to the contents of your home while you are away. Even if your privacy settings are up to scratch and only friends can see your posts, do you really know and trust everyone you are friends with on social media?
Have Your Locks Changed or Repaired
Did you know that broken locks are one of the most common reasons for break-ins? If your door locks or window locks are faulty or old, make sure you call a locksmith to replace them before you go on holidays. An experienced locksmith like Superior Locks can make sure there are no weak points in your home’s security system for intruders to exploit and gain access to your property. As well as giving your locks the once-over, make a note to unplug your garage door opener and secure sliding doors with a long piece of wood or metal before you leave.
Keep Valuables Out Of Sight
Never keep valuables out in the open, especially those that are easily transportable (jewellery, tablets, phones, laptops). Put these items away in drawers, cupboards or a safe, and close the blinds to rooms with larger, less portable items. And never leave spare keys outside even if you think they are well hidden.
Mow Your Lawns
An overgrown lawn and bins left on the kerb are another signal to thieves that no one is home! Make sure you mow your lawns just before you leave, and if you are away for a number of weeks (especially during the spring), it might be a good idea to hire a garden maintenance service to come in and give your lawns another mow. Ask your neighbours to bring in your bins or avoid putting them out on bin day if you won’t be around to bring them back in.
Concerned about your home security in Canberra? Get in touch with Superior Locks for a full range of residential locksmith services.
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