ISSUE 7/05

Wise up and lock up!

By Susannah Gray

Susannah Gray

Statistics show that the chances of being burgled increase substantially whilst you are moving house or away on holiday. By taking a few simple steps you can dramatically reduce the risk of being burgled at these times.

When Moving House

Prior to the move:

• Record whom you give your keys out to and ask them to return them to you as soon as possible. Don't give keys to anyone you do not trust.
• Make sure that you only allow people to look round your house if they have made a prior appointment with your estate agent.
• Always ensure that your removers are part of a professional association.

On Moving Day:

• If you have small children or pets, you may find the day less stressful if you make arrangements for them to be looked after by someone for the day. This will be one less distraction from the security of your home.
• Ask your neighbours to keep their eyes open for intruders.
• If you have hired a removal team, ask them to ensure that their van is locked when it is not in use during the day.

Once you have moved in:

• Have the locks changed on the outside doors, as you will have no idea who may have keys that fit the current locks.
• Two out of every ten burglars are able to enter a property without using force, so make doubly sure that spare keys are not being left under the doormat or flowerpot!
• Be careful that you don't leave boxes or belongings outside which reveal what valuable property you have inside!
• Consider joining your local Neighbourhood Watch Scheme.

When on Holiday

It is not always easy to ensure that the house looks 'lived in' while you are away on holiday.

Where there is a build up of post, milk bottles or leaves and the curtains remain closed during the day, it soon becomes obvious that the house is vacant. One of the best ways to minimise risk is to ask a friend to house sit. Offer to do the same for them while they are away - they will usually be happier if it is a mutual arrangement.

There are several other things you can do before you go off on holiday that will help to keep your home and belongings secure.

• Make sure that your friends/neighbours don't write your details on the key fob in case they are mislaid or stolen.
• Don't forget to cancel your milk and newspaper deliveries while you are away.
• It will help to give your house the appearance of being lived in if you mow the lawn before you go.
• Ensure that things of value are not visible from outside the house.
• Avoid leaving keys visible from or near the letterbox.
• Invest in some "electronic timers" for your radio and lights to help keep up the appearance that you are at home.
• Avoid labelling your luggage with your name and home address when travelling to the airport or to your destination.

So, as you can see, with a little forethought you can reduce the chance of being burgled and save yourself a huge amount of distress and worry.

You know it makes sense!