Safe as houses this Christmas

THE bags are packed and we are about to lock the door behind us for that Christmas and New Year getaway which we’ve been planning for months. All that’s left to do is lock up the house, right?

Christmas and New Year is not just the silly season, it is also a time when we should all be more alert about home security. Statistics reveal the number of incidents during the festive season is higher when compared to any other time of year.

SuperLiving spoke to Neighbourhood Watch state coordinator Brian Scully who said if people were planning to go away, it never hurts to tell a trusty neighbour. “Tell them how long you will be away for and give them your contact details for any emergencies,” he said. “They can also make sure that your mailbox is cleared out so that junk mail does not build up, as this is a big giveaway that the person is not home.”

Scully said another step Neighbourhood Watch  had to increase home security was to mark valuables in the house with your driver’s licence number. Your local library or police station should have engravers you can use to mark your property.

Trim back trees and bushes to remove any possible hiding spots for would be offenders, he said. This will also help your neighbours keep an eye out for any suspicious behaviour when you are away. Ensure tools are stored away as you don’t want to leave anything around that will make it easier for the burglar to break into your home. If you have a balcony, make sure any ladders or items in your backyard that would aid the offender are stored away in a locked shed.

Good lighting is essential and tips include installing motion sensitive lights outside and timers to lamps in the home. This way you do not waste electricity.

A dog’s bark is also a good deterrent for would be burglars.

The Victoria Police suggest leaving a radio on tuned to a talkback station. You could even use a timer to select when you would like the radio to come on. Another tip is getting someone to house sit for you when you are away for a long period of time as this way the house is never empty.

If you cannot get a house sitter, make your home looks occupied, a spokesperson from the Victoria Police told SuperLiving. “Hang some old clothes on the line outside and leave some shoes at the front door,” he said. “Try not to leave information about holidays in plain view where people can see it from outside one of the windows.”

If you have an answering machine, leave a message saying you cannot come to the phone right now instead of you are away on a holidays and when you will be back. If you live alone, avoid using ‘I’ in your answering machine message, as you do not want to advertise that you live on your own. “Divert your home phone to your mobile or lower the volume on your home phone before you go on a holiday.”

Home security is not only important when you are away but it is also important when you are at home, Scully said. “Especially in the hot summer months, do make sure if you leave doors or windows open, that you have security screens [with locks],” he said. “If you are doing work at the back of the house, make sure the front door and window are locked as someone can sneak in and steal car keys, wallets or any small valuables left around.”

A tip for those coming back from a dinner or function late at night is to leave a light on in the house and make sure it is visible from the street so the room looks occupied. In addition, put a lock on your power box, as this will avoid people tampering with your lighting system or alarm system (if you have one installed).

Meanwhile, ensuring your car is secure while you are out and about doing some shopping or parked at home is also important at this time of year, Scully said, especially because people are out buying Christmas presents. “Leaving things in your car will attract possible offenders and result in your vehicle being broken into and items in it being stolen,” he said.

“Theft in vehicles is a very big issue at this time of year.”

We should always make sure that our home and contents insurance is up to date. The Office of Crime Prevention suggests making a list of any valuables and taking photos of the items. “Keep a record of the serial and model numbers of your household goods.”