Heading away over summer? Make sure your property is safe before you go!

Heading away these holidays? Make sure your property is secure before heading off to the beach this year!

If you’re planning on getting out and about over summer, remember it’s one of the most active times for burglars too. Now is a good time to be doing a few things around your house and garden to make your property more secure before heading off for the holidays.

With the Christmas holidays on our doorstep and summer well underway, Kiwis are more likely to head away with the family for a break.

However, house burglars are also getting ready for the holidays. It’s a busy time for them, as they prepare to make the most of good weather and good opportunities – the sun is out, householders are out, and it is easier now more than ever for break ins!

So, while you’re packing up your tent for the whānau, have a think about how you can make your property less attractive to criminals and safeguard yourselves while you are away.

Utilising FIRST Security’s Responda, an on-demand security app to give you peace of mind right at your fingertips, is one way to combat burglaries over the holiday season. With no contracts, no monthly fees, and the opportunity to only pay when you call out a security guard - you can rest easy while you are away from your property and know you have someone on hand to check in when you need. Take a look at our website for more information and to download the app.

Neighbourhood Support New Zealand also has some excellent tips and advice on a range of security and safety topics for households, including ‘vacant home tips’, ‘reducing burglars’ opportunities’, and ‘who burgles a house and why’. It’s worth taking a look at their online resources.

According to Neighbourhood Support, burglars typically risk averse, and they tend to look for low-hanging fruit. They like houses where:

it looks like no one’s home (lights on or curtains closed during the day, or mail accumulating in the letterbox)
a window or door is left open or unlocked (including the garage)
trees or shrubs are blocking the view from the street
items of value are left outside overnight (such as bikes, gym equipment, etc)
they’ve been before (may have burgled the property previously)
there’s no apparent security (cameras, alarm, sensor lights, or dog!)

Neighbourhood Support suggests several practical steps you can take to make your place less attractive for would-be burglars (for a complete list, view their tip sheet), including:

Join a Neighbourhood Support group in your area and display Neighbourhood Support signs and stickers on your property perimeter (if there’s no group in your area, start one!).
Ensure doors and windows have good quality catches and locks, that they are working properly, and that you are using them. Use deadbolts where possible.
Lock doors and windows at night, if you’re in the garden, or out and about. Don’t leave a key hidden outside - burglars know where to look!
Keep sheds and garages secure and lock away tools, ladders, bikes., etc
Consider having an alarm system professionally installed or have your property monitored by a security company.
Install sensor lights on the approach to doors.
Install a peep-hole in your front door so you know who’s there before opening the door.
Trim and/or remove trees and shrubbery which might ‘hide’ a burglary or their activity.
If you’re going away, ask neighbours to collect your mail and make your place look occupied. They could turn on lights, park their vehicle outside, hang washing, or mow your lawns.
Mark valuable property such as electronics and tools with identifiable details, and keep a record of their serial numbers.
Place ‘Beware of Dog’ signs around your property as a deterrent.
Never confide in anyone you don’t trust that you’re away from your home or live alone.
Report suspicious or unusual activity to the Police

These are all simple and practical steps you can take to strengthen your property’s security and make it less attractive to thieves, and spending a few hours over the weekend before you head off to tick off some items on your security checklist may well make all the difference.

To find out more about joining Neighbourhood Support New Zealand, check them out online. If you’d like professional advice in relation to your residential or commercial security needs, feel free to contact us.

Wishing you all a safe and happy Christmas from FIRST Security.