Eight tips to keep your house secure while you’re away this summer
GOING away this summer?
Don’t forget to take the crucial steps necessary to keep your house secure while you’re away.
Here’s a checklist from insurance provider Urban Jungle.
DON’T BOAST: Deter burglars by putting your work address on your suitcases’ baggage labels and don’t post about your holiday on social media until you have arrived home.
SWITCH OFF: Water leaks are the most common disaster holidaymakers return to, so turn off your water supply at the mains using the stopcock.
Save electricity by turning off TVs, computers and stereos.
TIME IT RIGHT: Invest in a timer to turn on your lamps in the evenings. Wilko does 24-hour timer switches for £4.50 each, currently it’s three for £10.
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KEEP THEM SAFE: Lock valuables away rather than stash them in a drawer. Argos has 25 per cent off a range of safes, with a 31cm mechanical steel safe with keys down to £28.50, from £38, and a digital safe at £45, down from £60. B&Q also has a Smith & Locke laptop-wide digital safe for £50.
EYE SPY: Set up an indoor home security camera. A decent budget option is the Blink Mini camera, £19.99 down from £29.99 at Amazon, which alerts your phone when motion is detected.
BLIND PANIC: Leaving all curtains closed can signal an empty house. Just close curtains or blinds that face on to a busy street at ground level.
KEY CHANGE: Leave a key with a trusted person rather than under a flowerpot or doormat, and ask them to pick up your mail so it doesn’t back up at the letterbox. Get a neighbour to park on your drive while you’re away.
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NO LEG-UPS: Put your wheelie bin in your back garden or out of sight. Leaving it by the back gate could help a burglar climb over.
Remove anything that might help an intruder break in, such as ladders, garden chairs or kids’ play equipment.
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