The festive season is around the corner and not only will you be shopping, but criminals will be filling their Christmas stockings with your hard-earned belongings.
Take note of these tips as they can protect your home and yourself.
Don’t forget your roof – Criminals don’t always use the front door to break in. There have been increasing reports of burglars removing roof tiles to get into houses via the ceiling space. This allows them not only to access the property largely unseen, but also deactivate any alarm systems that are wired through the roof.
It’s a good idea to put an alarm passive in your ceiling space. This helps chase off burglars with a break-in plan as well as opportunistic copper thieves.
Don’t make it obvious when no-one is home – This is a particularly important security tip during the festive season when we all spend more time visiting friends and family or heading away for a well-deserved break.
Get a neighbour to clear your mailbox and take out your bin. Consider putting a light on a timer switch in a visible window that turns on and off in the evenings. This can give the impression of someone going about normal evening activities, even when nobody is actually home.
Don’t leave your TV or radio on, as constant noise can actually be a clue that nobody is home. It’s also a good idea to drop the volume on your landline ringtone so that unanswered calls don’t give your absence away.
Have an emergency plan – One of the most overlooked elements of a security strategy is what to do if the worst happens and you’re home during a break-in event.
Make sure your panic buttons work and are placed in several spots around the home, including the bathroom – a common spot for burglars to lock residents up. Have emergency services on speed dial, and think about possible escape routes that might get you out of a dangerous situation.
Information compiled by: Tony Clarke, Managing Director of the Rawson Property Group
