Don't let your home security take a holiday when you do
The annual summer holiday season is upon us but among all the planning of where to go, where to stay, what to take and how to get to the airport, some time does need to be spent considering adequate security precautions before you jet off on your holiday.
With four out of five burglaries occurring when a house is unoccupied*, it is statistically proven that houses are at a greater risk of burglary when the owners are away on holiday or absent for a period of time.
However, vulnerability can be reduced by disguising the fact that you are away and making sure your property is secure. Most burglars like to go about their business undisturbed and rarely will they target a home if they know it is occupied. Thus, the best method of protecting your home while away is making it look lived in and combining this with good security.
Burglars are largely opportunists and homes which appear empty are easy pickings. To allow you to relax while on holiday and to reduce the risk of burglary and any resultant claim on your home insurance policy, independent insurance broker Be Wiser Insurance has put together a few tips to bear in mind:
“The period just prior to your holiday is a good time to make a list of all the valuable items in your home and check that your home contents insurance is up to date,” said Mark Bower-Dyke, Chairman of Be Wiser Insurance.
“Most home insurance policies will cover homes while they are unoccupied, but almost all will have restrictions on cover if the home is left unoccupied for more than a certain period of time. The threshold is usually 30 days although it does vary from policy to policy. Study your contract wording and if you intend to be away for longer than this, you should inform your insurers.
"If you are a second home owner and spend certain months of the year at your holiday home, you will also need to consider the possibility that you will need specialist insurance.”
Mark continued: “If you are unlucky to suffer a break in at your home when you are on holiday, you will need to be contacted as quickly as possible as certain things may need to be done to make your home secure. The police will need to be notified and the property made secure. Whoever deals with the police will need to obtain a crime reference number as this will be required by your insurers, as well as for ongoing contact with the police. Make sure you have your home insurance policy number to hand as well as the insurance claims department telephone number so you can call them and keep them informed of developments.”
Be Wiser’s top tips for home security while on holiday:
1. Leave a key with a friend or relative who can stop by to check everything is in order, sort your mail and water your plants.
2. Turn off things you won’t need such as the gas. Turning off the TV and computer (not leaving them on stand-by) can save you money as well.
3. Use a timer to switch on the lights at different times when you are away. Test them out for a few days before you leave so they come on when it gets dark.
4. Ensure all doors and windows are closed and locked and double-check before you leave.
5. Change your telephone ring to the lowest it can be - an unanswered phone is a clear sign the house is unoccupied. Or you may want to consider transferring your telephone to a mobile to enable you to answer the phone.
6. Hide your valuables in a box in your loft or among old clothes, anywhere an intruder would not think to look.
7. Check your home insurance policy to see if there are any special considerations you have to comply with.
8. Cancel your newspapers and milk if you have them delivered.
9. Pay all outstanding bills to avoid unnecessary correspondence whilst you are away.
10. Make sure that all security systems are working and operational.
11. If you are expecting any large postal items to be delivered while away, speak to your local Post Office and ask them to hold the parcel for you.
12. Examine the contents of your outbuildings and check you have good quality locks on them. It may be worthwhile bringing certain items, such as expensive pedal cycles, in to the home while you are away,
13. Prepare an 'information pack' for someone you trust. This should include your travel itinerary, details of where you are staying and how you can be contacted, photocopies of your passports and other important information relating to your home such as your home insurance policy details.
14. Depending on the season, you may want to leave the heating system on or drain it down, depending on your insurer’s recommendation.
15. Remove high value or attractive contents from windows and be aware that all high value items need to be stated on your contents insurance policy.
16. Don't over publicise the fact that you are away on your holidays - you don't know who will overhear and who will find out.
17. If you’re taking the car with you, ask a neighbour to park on your drive.
18. If you are a member of a neighbourhood watch scheme, ask a co-ordinator to keep an eye on your house for you.
For more information, visit: bewiser.co.uk
*Source: Home Office Crime Reduction