Everyone makes endless to-do lists before a holiday trip but several of the ways you can secure your home and its contents should to be planned long before you start booking your breaks.
You need a secure place, preferably a safe for all valuables, not just cash and jewellery but important papers to. Fix time switches to allow lights to come on and off at various times of the day or night. Consider the time of year so you actually have lights on, or a radio playing, in the right room at the right time, to make the house look occupied.
An air-conditioner or dehydrator, left on a low setting will not only hint that someone is at home but also keep the house aired while you are gone.
Consider fitting security cameras indoors and outside which will connect to your smart phone to give visuals of your home. This could reveal any signs that something is amiss in time to prevent theft or damage or, at least, provide reassurance that all is well.
Avoid the give-away signs that signal 'empty house' to anyone looking for an opportunity to commit a crime by arranging for someone to come in and out occasionally while you are away.
We do have an advantage with our summer climate in that curtains, blinds and shutters are often drawn during the day so this is no indication of whether someone is in or not. And be sure not to accidently leave any washing on the roof or balcony. If it is there any longer than a day everyone will know there is nobody there.
An empty car space is also a give-away, not that that happens very often with our appalling parking problems. But do ensure all garage doors are locked with, not only bikes and toys inside but also ladders and tools. These are often commandeered by thieves to break into property and if the thief can pick up a paint tin and brush, for cover, who is going to look twice at someone they thing is doing some odd jobs while you are away?
Most people use mobiles now but an answered land line can mean an empty house, so either have all calls rerouted or leave an answer phone message saying you'll call back when you can. Set it to come on after a few rings to give the impression that you really are just too busy to answer or are monitoring your calls.
Only a trusted house-sitter or a friend, who will be keeping an eye on your home, needs know your travel arrangements. Social media can never be secure enough to guarantee the wrong people don't get hold of information about your whereabouts.
There was once a time when burglars would hang around airports and ferries to discover who was going where from their baggage labels. People would have their names and addresses all over their luggage along with destination labels. Likely targets would be noted and often be the victims of a robbery in their absence.
Now, it is sharing your travel route and destinations on instagram that is risky. Many a GPS had given burglars access to an empty home. Thieves can break into a car at the airport, activate the GPS unit and find out where your empty home is. If you are on a road trip set 'home' for somewhere nearby so thieves will not be led you the actual spot. Do this with all portable units as well.
And do resist the temptation to post off running commentaries and images of where you are what you are doing. Anyone could be using this information to plan a robbery while you are safely out of the way.
This might not be so much of a worry if all your accounts are private, but how private are those of the people you are sending to? The risks of a leak are always there so it's far better to share the joy when you are back home.
USE WITH AWAY PICS
Pic 1 Use a portable the GPS unit with you and turn it off when not in use.
Pic2 Keep valuables hidden in a safe.
Pic 3 Sharing your travel information on instagram that is risky.