Make it appear that you're home.

Lighting up your home during the night is another way of securing your home when you're away. You can buy light bulbs with timers which you can set to turn on and off at certain times of the day, making it appear that you're home. 

Avoid lighting up rooms that could be observed from the outside through the blinds or curtains. Alternatively, you could change to thicker or semi-opaque curtain material.

Install motion sensors in your house and around your yard. Being seen in the light may deter robbers from breaking into your house. Exterior lighting also helps deter intruders.

Apart from lighting, you need to take care of your garden too. One way to spot an unoccupied house is to look at the garden. If grass or hedges have not been cut for several days or weeks, they're easy to spot.

Before going away for the holidays, make certain that you, a friend or family member, mow the lawn, indicating that you are at home and haven't left.

Ask someone close by to park in your driveway if they're available. Cars moving outside your house could give the impression that someone is inside your home.

To prevent them from accumulating, it would be wise to temporarily cancel any daily or monthly deliveries such as newspapers and groceries. It will keep your house safe and it will save you some money too!

A neighbour's close eye on your house.

Notifying a trusted neighbour about your holiday plans is also essential. Ask them to keep a close eye on your house from time to time and let you know if there is any activity that looks suspicious within the premises of your home.

If you don't feel comfortable giving them your spare key, leave them spare keys at your house.

An overflowing mailbox is also not a good thing. Ask your neighbour, family member, or friend to take any post or letter you have received so that they won't notice that you aren't home. If no one would take your mail, consider redirecting it to an available address.

Switch off and double-check.

Make sure that you turn off all your appliances before going on holiday. Turn your refrigerator or freezer off if you're planning an extended trip. 

It will not only reduce the risk of fires, but it will also save much money.

Make sure the batteries are fully charged for your smoke alarms. If you're not sure whether they're expired, check to ensure they are working. It's best if you also remembered to pay your electricity bills in advance so that your alarm system and lights won't fail to function when you're away from home.

Keep it to yourself.

One way of preventing burglars from breaking into your house is not to tell everyone that you're away. Don't post updates on your social media profiles.

Ensure that the people you tell about your holiday are the ones you trust 100%. There have been several cases where burglars have created fake accounts to befriend or follow people on social media. As soon as they know you're away, they immediately start targeting your residence for a break-in. Wait until you have returned before sharing those beautiful photos and locations.

Lock up and secure your doors and windows.

Don't leave your house without locking up and securing your doors and windows. Lock all the doors, windows, and backyards of your house, any rooms in your garage, and your car. If you're going to check all possible entry points, be sure to check them all. If you need to reinforce, do so.

Check your locks once again one night before your departure, just to be sure. To avoid rushing at the last minute, you need to plan ahead.

Home security systems are both useful and essential. Access control systems allow you to secure your premises by controlling who has access. You may also be monitored by your mobile phone, which is convenient, especially when away from home.

Security and peace of mind.

If you'd like to know which locks to use, contact the professional locksmiths at Shellharbour Locksmiths.

We can provide and install deadlocks, windows locks, and sliding door lock systems to help protect your family or stock against intruders who want to exploit the most vulnerable areas of your property. After all, you deserve that holiday and a relaxing time away from home.