Securing your home for the holidays

• If you're going away on holiday this year, one of the first things you can do to help keep your home safe from potential unwanted guests is to ensure that you don't advertise your absence. Don't post your travel plans on social media, and try not to be too obvious about packing for a long trip. Some tips include the following:Pack your car and/or trailer when it's quiet and random passers-by are less likely to see you packing large quantities of baggage into your car. Many burglaries are purely opportunistic, spurred on by the unexpected realisation that a house or building is going to be empty for a few days or more.
• Don't leave your packed bags in the car or trailer overnight. Rather wake up early on the morning of your departure and pack the car just before you leave.
  
• Wherever possible, keep the gates to your property closed while you pack the car. Leaving your gate and front door open and your car unlocked while you pack could be just the invitation that burglars are waiting for.
  

It's also a good idea to have a trusted friend or family member stay at your house while you're not there, not only to look after any furry family members who may not be able to join you on your holiday, but also to deter any potential burglars. If criminals know that your house is not going to be vacant, they're less likely to target it.

Even if your friend can't stay over the whole time that you're away, you could ask him/her to do some of the following to maintain the appearance that your home is occupied:

• Turn on certain lights each evening and turn them off again in the morning.
• Clear out your postbox regularly – an overflowing postbox is one of the first signs of an unoccupied house.
  
• Test your armed response system every week or so to ensure that it works as it should.
  
• Keep an eye out for any overly curious individuals peering through the gates or over the walls in your area and report them to the local neighbourhood watch to alert other residents to any potential burglary attempts.
  

Before you leave for your holiday, ensure that any large bushes in your garden that may serve as hiding places for uninvited guests are well trimmed and, if possible, install motion censoring outdoor lights.

Finally, always ensure that your security system is properly maintained and in good working order that your service provider knows when you'll be away and who will be watching your home during that time. It's always better to be well prepared rather than to deal with unpleasant surprises on your return from holiday. 

Travel safely!