Tips on keeping your home secure over the festive season

This time of year can provide opportunities for burglars, read our top tips from local locksmith Kevin Carloni of Fort Locks to keep your property safe!

This time of year can provide opportunities for burglars. With many homes left vacant over the holiday period, combined with the potential for expensive new items left in easy reach, intruders might be justified in feeling that all their Christmases have come at once.

Our first guest-blog is written by Local locksmith, Kevin Carloni at Fort Locks, he says: “By taking care to secure your property during the Christmas period, you can help prevent nasty surprises in your home during the Yuletide season.”



Follow the tips below to keep your home burglar-free this Christmas.

Don’t make it obvious there’s nobody home

• If you’re going away for a few days over Christmas, or even just popping out for the afternoon, it’s important not to advertise the fact.
• If you can, get a trusted neighbour to remove any accumulated post or newspapers from your door, look after your spare key, and even park a car on your drive.
• As tempting as it may be… Don’t brag about your travels on Facebook or other social media! While most people will simply sigh over your enviable escapades, untrustworthy individuals may take your posts as a green light to pay your home a visit.
• Similarly, don’t record an answerphone message that reveals that you’ll be away for a period of time.
• Consider investing in a timer to turn lights on and off at regular intervals while you’re out. (Think Home Alone-style set-ups to fool robbers into thinking the house is occupied!)

Keep valuables out of sight and inaccessible

Homes with expensive items within easy reach are the most likely to be targeted by intruders. Follow these tips to minimise your risk.

• Presents under the Christmas tree are an alluring festive sight… for burglars, that is. If you do display a tree in your window, don’t put out the presents until the day itself – they might just prove too tempting for intruders.
• Once the gifts have been unwrapped, it’s also important to dispose of the packaging discreetly. If not hidden or destroyed, those big boxes will proclaim to the world the existence of your new, widescreen HD TV.
• If you have external Christmas lights displayed outside your house, don’t be tempted to leave a window ajar in order to plug into the mains inside the house. As well as causing an unwelcome draught, it’ll provide an easy access point for intruders.

Upgrade your security features

Because Christmas is the prime season for break-ins, it makes sense to upgrade your home security at this time.

• Consider installing a burglar alarm which is visible from outside your home. This will act as a deterrent for intruders who don’t want to be noticed, as well as alerting you and your neighbours quickly if anyone does break in.
• Many intruders carry out a recce on potential properties before actually breaking in. Installing CCTV outside your home will capture any suspicious activity so that you can alert the police.
• If you have some really valuable items in your home, you might want to invest in a secure and fireproof safe to keep them in. There’s no way a burglar will be able to get access.

Here’s to a happy, healthy and secure festive season... and a safe and prosperous New Year!