An important message from Gwent Police.
If you are preparing to jet off to sunnier climates this summer, then remember to check your home security before you leave.
It may be the last thing on your mind before you go away, but taking a few moments to review your security, will help to reduce the likelihood of your property being targeted.
Even if you are staying home, here are some top tips that you can follow:
Make sure your house looks occupied – if you keep all of your curtains closed during the day, it may look as if no-one is at home. It is also worthwhile investing in some automatic time switches to switch lights on and off whilst you are out of the house.
Don’t leave valuable items like televisions or computers in sight in front of windows.
Lock your garage and shed with proper security locks, after putting all your tools safely away so they cannot be used to break into your house. If you have to leave a ladder out, put it on its side and lock it to a secure fixture with a ‘close-shackle’ padlock and heavy-duty chain.
Cut the lawns before you go away.
If you are leaving a vehicle on your property, make sure the keys to it are secure and are not on display in your home.
Remember to lock all of your outside doors and windows and ensure that the keys are in a safe place. If you have a burglar alarm, make sure it is set.
Also consider informing a trusted friend or neighbour that you are going away, so they can help to keep an eye on your property. If they are willing, they could also collect your post, draw your curtains at night and open them in the mornings and generally make the place look like it’s lived in. They could park their vehicle on your drive whilst you are away as well.
If you have regular deliveries, then remember to cancel them discreetly before you leave – try to avoid announcing your departure to a shop full of people. Finally, just before you actually set off, it’s worth allowing a couple of minutes to check you’ve done all you had to do and taken everything you need with you!
