Ensuring your home is safe and secure is always a top priority, but even more so as the festive season approaches.
Not only is Christmas the busiest time of year for Father Christmas and his elves, but also unfortunately it’s also a busy time for light-fingered fiends and thieves. With longer, darker evenings drawing in and festivities aplenty throughout December, it really is the perfect opportunity for burglars to strike.
In recent years, home insurance claims have seen a constant rise in January following thefts throughout December. With last-minute present shopping dashes and those office Christmas parties, our homes are often left empty throughout the festive season, leaving them to be easy targets for unwanted intruders.
Here at Kayabee, we’ve compiled these top tips from security experts across the country to help you keep your valuables and homes safe this Christmas. Whether you’re at home or away this festive season, there’s never been a better time to update your security measures. Follow our guide below to make sure you and your family have a very merry Christmas.
Lighting
Firstly, ensure the exterior of your home is well-lit. Christmas time is the perfect excuse to get out those festive lights that have been hiding in your attic all year. Your home won’t just look spectacularly Christmassy, it’ll also increase visibility around any side entrances and passageways, perfect for deterring any possible lurkers.
Motion sensor lighting can also be a hugely useful investment. Adding these extra lights at entrances and any dark corners will give you peace of mind in the dark winter evenings, shining a spotlight on any potential activity around your home.
Locking windows and doors
Making sure your windows and doors are secure is essential all year round, not just during the festive season. It may be one of the simplest things you think of when trying to protect your home against unwanted intruders, but when you’re dashing out the door to make those last minute Christmas work drinks, it can get overlooked. Try keeping a festive keyring on your keys. A sparkly bauble to catch your eye and remind you to be extra vigilant at this time of the year is nothing but a good idea this Christmas.
There are hundreds of different options when it comes to locks, available to suit all needs and budgets. Exterior doors must have deadbolt locks. Whilst sliding doors should have vertical bolts and a metal or wooden rod in the track to prevent them being forced open or lifted off the track. It’s also worth investing in a heavy-duty, good quality padlock for each outside entrance such as your garage or gates, even if you only lock them at night.
If you’re a renter or have just moved into a new home, don’t forget to change the locks, or check with your landlord to find out if it’s been done already. It’s better to be safe than sorry, especially when it comes to a stranger having access to your own front door
Valuables
Store away your valuables out of sight. Before you leave for the evening, take a quick scan around to check your visible assets aren’t all scattered in obvious places. Every time you leave the house, remember to close your curtains. Again, something that can sometimes be overlooked. Shutting your curtains and taking an extra minute to keep those preying eyes out could potentially save you thousands. It’s worth doing.
Keep any spare keys unlabelled and out of sight stowed away in a drawer. Secure valuables in a home safe or lockbox. Home safes can also be bolted to the floor these days, since some incidents have seen burglars taking the entire safe. Give your passcode or combination to just one trusted loved one in case of an emergency.
Alarms and cameras
Intruder alarm systems, especially one that’s linked through to the police, is a great deterrent to any burglar. It’s important to reset all alarm codes if you’ve just moved house, a task that can sometimes be overlooked during the hectic festive season. Without an alarm system that’s regularly serviced and in full working order, your insurance may be void.
Social Media
Finally, be social media smart. If you’re going away to visit loved ones this Christmas and locking up for a few days, it may be best to skip that social media post advertising your empty home. If you do want to keep your followers informed on your whereabouts, just double check your privacy settings first.
