“There are many telltale signs that a burglar may look for in an unoccupied home, including piles of mail, the absence of cars in a driveway or bins left out on the street,” he says. “Burglars may also check whether you have a home-security system or video camera. If you do, they are more likely to move on to another property.”
“Look at both the inside and outside of your property from the perspective of a burglar,” says Jeremy Stewart, vice president of global marketing at Swann security firm. “This will help you identify any entry points or weak spots.”
“If you live in a coastal area, be aware that salt corrosion can make locks freeze up, and they may require cleaning and maintenance to work again. If you need to call in a professional to do this, allow plenty of time as they get busy over the holiday season,” says Anderson.
Tip: “It’s important that your locks are keyed,” he says. “While a burglar might break the glass on your doors or windows, it will be harder for them to get in through broken glass if the door or window is still locked. Hide the keys away or take them with you on holiday.”
“Avoid these risks by auditing your social-media following and removing people you don’t know in real life,” he says. “You can also safeguard against burglaries by reviewing your social-media privacy settings and carefully considering what you post online and disclosing your whereabouts.”
“Don’t reveal holiday plans when communicating with friends on social media platforms and ensure your children don’t inadvertently do the same,” adds Bull.
It’s also a good idea to ask them to bring in your rubbish bins, says Bull.
A driveway that’s empty for days on end is another telltale sign that the house is empty, says Bull. “Ask a family member or trusted neighbour to park their car out the front of your house. Try to give them as much notice as possible, particularly over the busy Christmas break, and offer to return the favour,” he says.
“Home-security technology is now smarter than ever. You can now operate many systems remotely from a smart phone or tablet, and arm or disarm your security from anyway in the world,” says Bull. “They can also send an alert to your phone if the alarm is triggered and give you a live view through the cameras set up in your home, or turn on lamps or appliances remotely to give the appearance that somebody is in residence.”
“And don’t forget to update your nominated ‘emergency contact’ with your security provider before you go away,” he says.
“And while this might seem like a no-brainer, double-check that all your doors and windows are securely locked before leaving the house to go on holiday,” he says.
“If you live in a unit or townhouse, be sure to lock up balcony doors too in order to prevent intruders from accessing your home via a neighbour’s balcony,” says Anderson.
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