With the holiday season rolling around after a long hard two years, many Australians are keen to get out and about this summer. But before you hit the beach for the weekend or board the plane for a long-awaited vacation, make sure that you’ve followed the following five security tips to ensure that your home remains safe and secure this holiday season.
Make it Look Like You Never Left
If you are going away, even only for a few days, it is always a good idea to make it look like you haven’t left. There are a couple of ways you can go about doing this:
- ask your neighbour to park in your driveway (they will probably appreciate the extra parking space!)
- ask your neighbour or a family member to collect your mail and put the bins out
- use motion activated outdoor lights or ensure that you have a smart home security system installed as this will allow you to program lights to turn on and off at certain times
- ask a friend to house sit
Ditch the DIY
While DIY security systems are an attractive option for many homeowners due to being cheap and relatively easy to install, these products are not as secure as professional grade systems and may end up costing you more in the long-run. Even when installed properly DIY security products are prone to being stolen and tampered with as they are not hardwired, and if not installed properly your home will be left vulnerable to intruders.
Set Up Remote Monitoring
A professional-grade alarm system will allow homeowners to arm and disarm their alarm system, remotely open doors, control lighting and heating/cooling, and can be integrated with a CCTV system so that the footage from your intercom and cameras can monitored through the same app.
By setting up your intercom to trigger recording when motion is detected and send you a notification when someone rings your doorbell, you can also avoid parcel theft. For example, you will be notified when a courier is at your door and can use two-way audio instruct them where to leave a package. With an integrated system you are also able to remotely unlock the door of your home to have a trusted family member, friend or neighbour to put the parcel inside for you.
If a parcel thief is caught in the act, two-way audio can be used as a deterrent, while recording will help capture evidence of the event, which will come in handy if you are required to lodge a complaint with Aus Post or pursue legal action.
Keep Gifts Out of Sight
A lit up window view of a Christmas tree surrounded by gifts is a nice view for passersby, but also a tempting one for potential burglars. If you are away over the Christmas period, it is recommended that you keep your tree and gifts away from windows and out of plain sight.
Properly Secure Your Home Before Leaving
While this might seem like an obvious tip, sometimes if you are really excited for a trip or leaving in a hurry it can be easy to skip the simple stuff. So before you go be sure to check:
- all curtains and blinds are closed
- all doors and windows are closed and locked
- your garage door is properly secured
- you have removed any hidden spare keys
For help ensuring that your home properly protected these summer holidays, don’t hesitate to contact the experts at Jim’s security on 131 546 or book a free onsite quote online.
