As the dark evenings draw in it’s more important than ever to ensure your home is safe and secure from intruders looking to take advantage of unoccupied properties. Follow our top tips to help protect your home this winter:
- Always set your alarm system when leaving home, and make sure to keep it serviced (annually, or twice-annually for monitored systems)
- Close curtains as soon as it gets dark to conceal valuables inside
- Invest in security lighting to deter burglars
- Never leave spare keys outside or hidden nearby. Instead, give them to a trusted neighbour, friend or relative
- Double check all doors and windows are locked before leaving the house. Don’t leave keys in the locks where they could be fished out
- Avoid posting holiday plans on social media. Opportunistic thieves use this info to target empty homes
- Install locked gates and high fences/walls to restrict access to the back and sides of your property
- Use timer switches on your lights to make it look like someone’s home even when the house is empty
- Keep Christmas presents and other high-value items out of sight of windows to avoid tempting thieves
Following basic security best practices will help minimise the risk of a break-in this winter. To discuss your home security in further detail, contact PFS today.