Secure Your Home for the Holidays – Pro Tips

We’re all ready to take a much-needed break, and many of our readers will be going away for the holidays. You may be worried about the security of your home and how to secure your home for the holidays and protect your valuables this holiday season.

There is no need to worry; our team at SecurAll has some expert tips to help protect you and ensure that your home and valuables are as secure as possible this holiday season.

In this article, we will discuss a few tips for securing your valuables when you go on holiday.

You’ll learn valuable skills such as:

• Creating the illusion that your home is occupied.

• Securing and lighting your home.

• How to make sure your alarm is efficient and installed correctly.

• How to choose a reputable home security provider.

• What attracts burglars, and how to take the relevant precautions.

Let’s help you secure your home and possessions this holiday season.

Create the Illusion of an Occupied Home

All our professionals emphasise the importance of creating the illusion of an occupied home. Most burglars are opportunists who don’t want to confront householders. Most burglars will choose to avoid residences with occupancy cues. These include cars in the driveway, house lights, loud TV, and music.

Of course, having a house-sitter, or someone watching your home, that can turn on the lights and TV at night is ideal.

Invite neighbours or friends to house-sit. These security precautions are your best bet. You may even ask them to park in your driveway or watch your pet. These small favours will deter intruders and improve your relationship with neighbours.

Be Sure to Have Some Form of Lighting on for the Nighttime to Secure Your Home

It is important to be sure to have some form of nighttime lighting whilst you are away from home for the holidays.

Lighting your home is one of the best ways to secure it over the holidays. All entry points and the perimeter of your home should be well-lit. Lighting deters criminals and helps you identify unusual activities.

Sensor lights, along with appropriate lighting, can prevent theft by criminals. These lights activate automatically when they detect movement, scaring off attackers. For increased protection, many homes utilise string lights or other ornamental lights throughout the holidays. Though celebratory, these can also brighten and illuminate your home.

When you leave your residence for a long time, it’s best to keep up appearances by leaving the lights on. Leaving a few random lights on while you’re away will work, but automatic light timers are more convincing.

Secure All Doors

It is essential to ensure that you secure all your doors before you go away. Burglars prefer open doors to smashing your windows, contrary to common assumptions and movie sequences. It is best to lock up all the doors properly before a vacation. Examine all locks, not just doors.

Unlocked doors, even those locked with outdated, credit-card-friendly locks, are ineffectual at deterring burglars. Test your locks and make sure you substitute a lock that’s easy to tamper with.

Here is an added pro tip from our SecurAll team, double check your door hinges. It is best to make sure you use at least 7.5-centimetre screws for door hinges and locks. It makes doors nearly impossible to kick open. Smart locks and strike plate reinforcement can also burglar-proof your front door. Modern deadbolts can be mechanical or computerised, but both provide greater security.

Have an Efficient Security Alarm System Installed to Secure Your Home For the Holidays

Having an efficient security alarm system installed is crucial to secure your home for the holidays. Our experts advise that choosing an alarm system that combines cameras, video, and alarm to provide concentric levels of security is the best option. You can find a security provider, get a quote, and sign up at Securall.

Traditional home alarms can only detect the front and back doors of a property and include a motion sensor. An alarm like this won’t detect a thief coming in through the window, only when they have an unlocked door and move inside. Numerous criminals know about and exploit these techniques.

The answer? Get an alarm system that prioritises early detection and lets you talk to and deter burglars. The faster you detect someone, the sooner they are deterred. Some of the latest home security systems employ AI to detect and analyse suspicious behaviour, allowing homeowners to act faster. These technologies can even give law enforcement information about an individual.

Knowing your home is monitored by security cameras and motion sensors provides you peace of mind. This scares off intruders. Programme your home’s secure security system properly. Without a security system, phoney signs are better than none.

Alarms should work properly when activated to alert the neighbourhood and security provider of a suspicious activity or security breach.

Be Discerning When Choosing a Home Security System to Secure Your Home for the Holidays

You need to be discerning when installing smart home security, or any home security, as it can have some drawbacks. The biggest is that a home security system alone may not dissuade criminals if other precautions aren’t taken. Our experts are of the opinion that deterrence should never be the primary purpose for deploying any security system, including cameras.

Some home security systems are better than others, and you must install and manage them wisely. It is best to deploy security cameras strategically to cover entry points and susceptible areas. A security system with remote access capabilities is also recommended. Remotely accessing your surveillance cameras may allow you to interrupt a break-in in progress.

Wireless doorbells like Ring can provide some protection, but just around your doors.

Finding a new security provider can be difficult if you don’t know what you want. Here are four key questions to ask when you are deciding on a new provider.

Are Officers Well-Trained and Equipped?

This is crucial in an emergency; a security provider with efficient and well-trained officers should be a top priority. Ask the company about response officer training. When patrolling and responding to situations, you must know what protective gear they carry. Do their vehicles have armour-plated windows, and do they wear Kevlar vests?

Does the Security Firm Comply?

Check if the company is registered with the Private Security Industry Regulatory Authority. Unregistered companies can’t be held responsible for poor executives. Organisations that don’t follow industry regulations can hurt their services and employees. The public must ask the right questions before signing any agreement and beware of fly-by-night security providers.

Looking for What?

Many technological advances make life easier and safer. Homeowners can use CCTV cameras, home monitoring automation, and mobile panic buttons. The security company also should follow industry trends. Besides receiving an alert notification, smartphone technology can arm or disarm your system remotely and let you observe your home through security cameras.

The Cost?

Ask about hidden fees and understand them. Learn about the services that meet your needs to get the best deal. The difference between a monitoring service and an armed response service is significant. Ask what you’ll get for your money.

What Attracts Burglars to Homes

It is vital to understand what attracts burglars to vulnerable areas in order to deter them better. Our experts agree that burglars prefer vacant homes with simple entry. Home burglaries occur during the daytime while people are at school, work or running errands.

Your best protection is locking your doors and windows and having someone there when you’re away. If you don’t have family or friends nearby to look after your house, contact a neighbour or hire a reputable house sitter to help secure your home for the holidays.