A recent report has found that 42% of home insurance claims relating to burglary are made between October and January meaning now is the time to make sure your home is fully secure. The combination of darker evenings and busy winter schedules means that burglars will be on the lookout for potential opportunities to strike. While you may not be able to completely eliminate the risk of a home invasion, there are some simple things you can do to help reduce your risk.
Fit an alarm to your home
If you can afford to do so, fitting a house alarm to your property is a great way of keeping your home safe from potential burglars. Not only will a visible house alarm act as a deterrent to those who may be thinking of breaking into your home, having an alarm in place will ensure that you a neighbour or your alarm company will be notified if someone has attempted to enter your home. Unsure about which kind of alarm is right for you? Check out our full house alarm guide for more information.
Double check your doors and windows
With temperatures starting to dip slightly in the past few days you may have found yourself double-checking your doors and windows for draughts, but now is also the time to check that all your locks are in working order. A potential burglar is likely to test your doors and windows hoping for easy access to your home. Ensuring that you use these locks when your property is unattended and that they are in working condition will make your home that bit more like a fortress.
Think like a burglar
Sometimes thinking like the enemy can have advantages, particularly when it comes to keeping your property safe. For example, if hiding a spare key try not to put it in an obvious location where a burglar may look – such as under the doormat – as these will be the first places a burglar will check. Ultimately, it’s better to leave your spare key with a trusted friend or neighbour, instead of in a location outside your home.
Lights on even when nobody’s home
It’s too early yet to start talking about a certain holiday in late December, but over the next few weeks and months many of us will find ourselves spending our evenings shopping or at work parties, potentially leaving our homes empty. If you’re planning on being out late, leave a light on (or fit a timer to turn your lights on and off automatically throughout the evening) to give the illusion that someone is home.
Tidy up the garden
While the gardening and DIY season is behind us, many people will have ladders or tools scattered in their garden, convinced that they’ll have an opportunity to finish any work they didn’t get around to during the summer. Tidying up these tools is a must ahead of winter as not only can valuable power tools catch a burglar’s attention, but a ladder could be used to smash a window or force your door open.
Make sure your home is secure with AA Home Insurance.
