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Burglary prevention while you are away
Whether you are on holiday or a business trip protect your home.  We all want to come home and find everything as we left it.  Almost half of all burglaries happen when a flat or house is empty.  By following the tips set out below, you can help to make your home more secure while you are away.

Plan ahead:
  • Make sure your home looks like someone is living in it.  Don’t close your curtains in daytime this shows the house is empty. Use automatic timer-switches to turn your lights on when it goes dark.
  • Make sure you have strong locks on all downstairs or easily accessible windows.
  • Cancel any milk or newspaper deliveries.
  • Avoid discussing holiday plans where strangers may hear details of your absence from home.
  • Cut the lawn before you go and trim back any plants that burglars could hide behind.
  • Hide valuable items, like the television, away from where people can see them from through windows.
  • Uncollected mail is a sign that you are away. The Royal Mail’s ‘Keepsafe’ service will keep your mail for up to two months while you are away.
  • Consider leaving important documents and valuable items with other family members or a bank. Or lock them in a safe.  Ensure all valuable items are adequately marked.
  • Do not put your home address on your luggage when you are travelling to your holiday destination.
  • Lock your shed, and put valuable items, like a bicycle, in the house.
When you leave:
  • Make sure that you’ve locked all outside doors and windows and, if you have a burglar alarm, make sure it is set.
  • Spend a couple of minutes checking that you’ve done all you had to do and taken everything you need with you. Don’t forget your passport and tickets!
Help from your neighbours:
  • Ask them to do small favours such as collect the post, sweep up leaves, mow the lawn, and open and close curtains.
  • They could even occasionally park their car on your driveway.
  • Repay the favour by doing the same for them. Warn your neighbour not to put your surname, address or even your house number on your keys in case they fall into the wrong hands.
  • Let your neighbour know when you will be away and, if you can, give them details so that they can contact you, or someone who can act on your behalf, in an emergency.
  • Is there a Neighbourhood Watch scheme where you live? Contact the Crime Reduction Adviser to see if there is one or how to set one up.  It could help you make your home more secure while you’re away, and has many other crime-prevention and community benefits.