‘Tis the season to be security conscious! Christmas is a time for getting together with family and friends to celebrate the Holidays. It is also the time of year where the majority of us will practice the tradition of giving gifts. Usually it should be a time for all of us to enjoy but unfortunately the majority of burglars view it very differently and see the Holiday period as an opportune time to break into a home. Insurance provider RIAS have recently reported that the first week of December 2012 saw a 25% increase in burglaries.
To help combat the rise in burglaries over the Christmas period National locksmith Keytek™ have shared ‘The 12 Security Tips of Christmas’, which can be found below…
1. Store bins and ladders away from the property as these can be used to access 1stfloor windows.
2. It’s always a good idea to leave a light on or on a timer, especially during the Holiday season when you’re more likely to be out Christmas shopping or attending a party! Leaving a television or radio on is also a good alternative to leaving the lights on.
3. If you are going to be away for a long period of time ask Royal Mail to hold your mail – they will do this for up to 2 months. It is recommended to ask the Royal Mail to hold your letters as they will pile up inside the front door and will be an invitation for a burglar as they will be able to see you’re away.
4. Keytek™ recommends that you either join or start a Neighbourhood Watch scheme.
Neighbourhood Watch works to bring neighbours together who want to look out for each other, creating strong, friendly, active communities where crime and antisocial behaviour are less likely to happen.
To find your local Neighbourhood Watch, or for information on how to start a Neighbourhood Watch scheme, please visit https://www.ourwatch.org.uk/
Alternatively if you don’t have a Neighbourhood Watch in your area and are going away for Christmas, inform a trusted neighbour that you are doing so, so they can keep an eye on your property.
5. Remember the Grinch who stole Christmas…never ever ever leave any presents or valuables where they can be seen by a burglar i.e. in view of a window!
6. Don’t discuss any holiday plans on any types of open forums i.e. Facebook. I’m sure you all heard the horror stories where over a thousand people turned up to a party that had been made public on Facebook, it would be like that but well a party for… burglars!
7. Store all sets of keys away from the front door! Whatever time of year it is, it’s always a good idea to have a key hook fitted internally away from the front door or have a key safe fitted externally to your property. A letterbox cage/guard is also recommended as burglars will often use the letterbox to retrieve keys stored inside the house.
8. Keep out any unwanted guests – it is always a good idea to have a spy hole or door chain fitted to your front door especially in the holiday season where you are more than likely to receive more visitors to your home.
9. Lights with sensors in the garden and front of your property will help to deter a burglar as they are more confident when working in the dark.
10. Use a UV pen to mark any valuables so if the worse does happen it may help to make recovery easier.
11. Check the locks on any gates or sheds and upgrade/replace if necessary. Make sure anything that can be used by a burglar to gain entry to your property i.e. garden tools are safely locked away.
12. Finally it’s always a good idea to have a locksmith come out to do a security and insurance compliance check on your home, they will be more than happy to upgrade the locks on your home for your peace of mind over the Christmas period.
Happy Holidays from Keytek™!
