5 Ways to Keep Your Home Safe Over the Holiday Period

You would think that when something doesn’t
belong to someone, they wouldn’t take it. Unfortunately, that’s not how the
world works. In most cases, it doesn’t matter whether your property is well
secured or not, the sign of vacancy over the holiday season can be enough to
encourage a thief to enter – and bring his friends too! It’s critical to keep
your home safe over the holiday season. Below are five ways you can help to
secure your home properly while you’re away:

Know who has access to all your spare keys

It can be difficult to remember who has
access to your keys or knows the hiding spots around your property. Do you know
whether that distant relative handed your key back after fixing your plumbing
three years ago? What about the boarder who used to live with you?

If you’ve had various keys cut over time
but no longer know who has access to them, it might be time to call upon the
services of a locksmith in Melbourne. Around the holiday
season, it pays to be extra vigilant. If you don’t know whether your home is
fully secure, choose to have your locks changed and reduce the quantity of cut
keys lying around.

Have someone collect your mail

The festive season is the busiest time of
year for many retailers. It’s a time when circular deliverers are rushed off
their feet, delivering pamphlets in bulk to entice potential customers into a
sale. While collecting your mail throughout the year might be the least of your
concerns, it should almost certainly be on your mind over the Christmas period.
In a matter of days, your mailbox can be at full capacity, and it doesn’t go
unnoticed.

Did you know that theft in Victoria has
risen almost 20 percent in just one year? Career criminals
are looking for any sign of house vacancy to make their move. Reduce the risk
of theft by having a friend, family member or neighbour collect your mail every
second day.

Don’t leave keys hidden around the property

The old ‘key under the rock’ trick may have
worked ten years ago, but it certainly won’t work now. While retailers believe
they are getting clever by selling fake rocks with nooks for keys to sit
within, they aren’t fooling anybody. The easiest way to avoid having your house
key found and your home’s security compromised is by removing the key from your
property altogether.

If you have arranged for someone to tend to
your goldfish, the mail and the lawns while you’re away, physically hand them
the key. The last thing you want to be doing is providing easy access for
criminals. This may, in some cases, even void your insurance.

Set lights on timers if you can

The easiest way to tell if someone’s not
home is by their lights. If you drive down any street at night, it’s clear to
see who has either a) gone to bed early or c) isn’t there. To reduce the risk
of theft, invest in timer technology. Many lamps and appliances can be set up
to turn on or off at particular times. This is invaluable, cost effective
technology that can even be found locally.

Arrange for a house sitter

And lastly, arrange for a house sitter. You
can more than reduce the risk of theft by asking someone to house sit for you.
Free accommodation in exchange for your home’s safety is a small price to pay.

Follow these
guidelines, and you will be able to enjoy far greater peace of mind while
you’re enjoying a well-earned break at the end of a hard year!