Top tips to keep your home safe when on holiday

With the kids about to break up and the good weather having finally arrived, an estimated 45 million of us Brits will be planning to take a holiday over the summer. For police and firms like us, that means a whole lot of vulnerable properties and potential breaches of security.

Don’t risk coming back to a break-in – here we have put together our top tips for keeping your home safe while you’re away. For ultimate peace of mind, don’t forget that we provide an affordable, flexible service for homeowners in Hampshire.

1)     Double check locks. It might seem obvious but you don’t want to be having the “I thought you did it” conversation whilst halfway to Spain. Make sure you know who is in charge of checking all windows are shut and doors are locked when you leave, to avoid any vulnerable spots which might catch the eyes of a potential thief.

2)     Timer switch. Lights going on and off at regular intervals are a good indication that someone’s at home. A dark house in the evening is a potential burglary waiting to happen. Solve this problem by buying a simple timer switch for while you’re away.

3)     Bribe a neighbour. It’s not fool-proof if thieves are watching your property, but it’s a good idea for Mavis next door to draw the curtains and open them again in the morning when she’s popping over to water the begonias. Any sign of life is better than none at deterring thieves while your property is vulnerable. It’s also worth asking someone to move the bin back after collection and remove any post stacking up by the door. 

4)     Don’t close the gates! People like to ‘shut up shop’ when they go away, but if your gates are open for the other 51 weeks of the year, it speaks volumes about its inhabitants not being around. 

5)     Don’t announce an impending holiday on Facebook. You don’t know who’s got access to that information so keep personal details like this off any social media pages – and refrain from tweeting about your fabulous holiday while you’re away too!

6)     CCTV Cameras act as a great deterrent to thieves. Link yours to a rapid response team and when the alarm is raised, you don’t need to worry about not being there. Speak to Venture about how we can help - as your designated keyholders, we are trained to deal with any issues that may arise, whilst keeping you informed at all times.

7)     Car at the airport? See if you can arrange for someone to leave another on your drive while you’re away.

8)     GPS. Don’t leave a portable sat nav in your car when you use airport parking. Anyone that finds it will not only know that you’re away, it’ll also provide them with a convenient map to your house.

9)     External lights. It’s well worth having a large light outside the front of your house which is motion activated. This gives a signal that any wrong-doers are being watched and their presence noted.

10)  Neighbourhood watch. Join or set up a scheme and benefit from lots of eyes on your property and plenty of twitching net curtains if a stranger comes poking around.

Still worried? Why not give us a call for an effective, affordable security service in Andover, Basingstoke and beyond. We offer a range of residential services, with routine patrols starting from just £12.