How to protect your home from burglars while you’re away

Some 524 homes in England and Wales are burgled every day and there’s nothing worse than returning from holiday — or getting a call from a neighbour halfway through — to discover that yours is one of them.

Here’s how to improve security and avoid becoming another statistic.

1. Upgrade your locks

Make sure door locks are up to date and window locks are in working order.

“For doors, home owners should opt for a three-star cylinder or lock that meets British Standard BS3621 to provide heightened protection,” advises Kevin Spencer, head of product management at Yale UK.

“And ensure all windows are shut and locked, with fully functioning window handles that can protect against attacks.”

Padlock garden gates, remove keys from locks where intruders can see them and before you leave, walk around the house checking that all windows are shut.

2. Make security measures visible

Burglar alarms are extremely effective deterrents, so much so that some insurance providers offer discounted premiums for homes where they’re installed.

Back yours up with extra measures such as CCTV, placing cameras prominently by windows and the front door to make opportunists think twice about attempting to enter.

The latest systems allow you to view footage via a smartphone app and incorporate features like motion-triggered recording.

Add a smart doorbell that alerts you to any unexpected visitors for extra peace of mind.

3. Consider outside lighting

“No burglar wants their illicit activities exposed. By adding lighting to your front and back gardens, you can increase visibility after dark and lower your risk of burglary,” says Carlos Dhunay, owner and security specialist of Telcam Security Solutions.

“Think about investing in motion-activated lights to increase the effectiveness of your outdoor lighting. The more lighting you have, the better.”

4. Don’t leave mail piling up

Mail left sticking out of the letterbox for days on end makes it obvious that no one’s home, so sign up to Royal Mail’s Keepsafe service at least five days before you go, then get it delivered once you’re back.

Reschedule regular orders such as vegetable boxes, and if you have milk delivered, cancel it advance rather than leaving a note in an empty bottle.

Ideally, get a neighbour or friend to pop in from time to time to bring in the mail and any packages.

5. Make your home look lived in

An empty property is the ultimate temptation to burglars, so trick them into thinking it’s occupied.

If possible leave your car in the drive or ask a neighbour to park there — even for just a day or two — and to turn on lights and open curtains and blinds.

Smart plugs let you control lights and anything else plugged into them remotely or switch on automatically when linked cameras detect motion outside.

“You need to be clever with your lights — don’t just program them to turn on at the same time every day,” advises Michele Bennett, general manager at ADT Subscriber.

“Have them switch on at random times throughout the day to really offset burglars — if a thief can’t figure out whether or not you’re home, they’re unlikely to risk trying to break in.”

6. Tidy your garden

Burglars love homes with plenty of access points and hiding places and you can make life more difficult for them by keeping the area around the house clear.

Cut back overgrown hedges and shrubs, lock away ladders and tools, alarm the shed and garage and give drainpipes a coat of anti-climb paint.

“Outdoor storage boxes under windows in the garden can give criminals a leg up and make accessing your house much easier,” says Spencer Murphy, property expert at Just Hire.

“Low fences are easy to climb over, especially if there’s an landing spot on the other side, but if you can’t replace them, planting things around the perimeter of the garden — like roses or pyracantha which have prickly stems — can deter people attempting to enter.”

7. Conceal valuables

It sounds obvious, but avoid leaving valuable items where they can be seen from outside.

Stash jewellery, cash and credit cards away — in a safe if you have one — and move TVs, laptops and gaming equipment out of sight.

Make sure house and car keys are secure, and place fobs for cars with keyless entry in signal-blocking pouches so that the ignition can’t be activated by thieves with hacking devices.

8. Resist posting on social media

Tempting though it may be to let the world know what a wonderful time you’re having, by posting on social media you’re advertising your absence.

“Some 78% of burglars use Facebook and Twitter to target potential properties,” says Bennet.

“Sharing updates whilst you’re away may seem harmless, but ultimately leaves your property at risk, so wait until you are back to post about your trip.”

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