There’s a lot to think about when you’re getting ready to go away. You need to pack, get your passport and spare cash from the security safe, arrange for kids and pets to be looked after, water the plants, check appliances are turned off…the list goes on.
So, it can be easy for a simple security check to slip your mind. At least you can have peace of mind that your security safe in Perth is staying firmly closed – provided you remember to lock it after retrieving your passport!
That’s just one of the things included in our list of 12 things you can do to bolster home security, to enjoy your time away worry-free.
1. Make the house look occupied
Burglars are going to bypass a home that looks lived-in. Leave the TV or radio on for short trips or use smart home technology to switch lights on and off. Even better, hire a house sitter so the house is occupied.
2. Ask a neighbour or friend for help
Enlist a neighbour to keep an eye on your place. Give them a key and ask them to do things like take out the bin, collect your mail (see #4 below), park in your driveway and feed the cat.
3. Store valuables in a security safe
When you pit a burglar against a home security safe in Perth, the safe is always going to come out on top. Burglars are opportunistic and haphazard; they’re not going to spend several days in your home trying (in vain) to crack a safe.
4. Forward your mail
If there’s nobody to collect your mail, have it temporarily forwarded to another address. Pause any delivery subscriptions and attach a No Junk Mail sign to your letterbox.
5. Check every lock
Go through your home and lock every door, window, cat flap, and garage door. Then go around again and double-check, and when you’re sure…
6. Remove spare keys
Thieves know to check under mats, in plant pots, above doors and in the garden for spare house keys. Make sure you collect them all, even if you have somebody keeping an eye on the property.
7. Post sparingly on social media
Don’t give thieves the heads-up that you’re away by posting on public channels. Save the holiday spam for when you get home in case the wrong person sees it.
8. Install a home security system
Security safes are great for keeping valuables locked up. However, you might want to consider investing in a CCTV system or monitored alarm for added peace of mind.
9. Put electronics on timers
If you don’t have internet-enabled devices, old-school timers work just fine. Schedule lights to come on around dusk and have the radio playing during the day to give the impression someone is home.
10. Unplug nonessential appliances
If you’ve ever had the thought of “did I remember to turn off the iron?” then this point needs no further explanation. It’s a small action with big benefits.
11. Clear gutters and drains
The weekend before you leave, do a little DIY by clearing dead leaves from the gutter. Although the chances of a spontaneous fire are slim, it’s one less thing to worry about on holiday.
12. Keep the garden tidy
Consider booking the lawnmower to visit if you’re planning to be away for a while. Ask a friend to drop by and water your plants, or book a landscaper to do it all at once.
Use this as a checklist before your next holiday, work trip or weekend away from home. It also works if you need to lock up the office for a while or keep a business secure (for example, in the event of another lockdown).
And if you need a new, upgraded or relocated solution to stash your most valuable possessions, call Perth’s security safe experts at Askwith Safe Company.