Returning to work advice

Recently we’ve heard many people talking about their plans when returning back to work. But imagine coming back from a perfectly relaxing or stressful day at work to find that your home has been broken into. Unsurprisingly over 50% of break-ins take place when a property is unoccupied, so for many homeowners this scenario is all too familiar.

Reduce the chance of a break-in

Following our advice on the 5 things to do before you leave for your holidays can reduce the chance of a home security breach whilst you are at work.

1. Write a list of what you need to lock up

On the day you leave for your first day back at work, you’re most likely going to be in a bit of a fluster – often because you’ve misplaced something or you’re worried about getting to work in time. It’s in these hectic last moments that people forget to make sure everything is locked up and secure. To avoid forgetting something important write a list of everything that needs locking and make sure you do as much as you can the night before you leave. Including locking the shed, garage and each individual window – these are often missed and too much of a good opportunity for a burglar.

2. Get some help from a friend

Enlisting the help of a close friend, family member or trusted neighbour can further increase the chance of your home being secure whilst you are away. Get a spare set of keys cut for this trusted person, leave them with some emergency contact numbers.

3. Resist the temptation to boast

Discussing your plans in public years ago meant that a stranger could overhear and have all of the information they needed to plan a break-in on your home. Don’t get us wrong, this still happens now, but the threat is made even stronger by the way we now communicate online and share personal information with strangers.

4. Keep your most valuable items out of view

Burglars like to take a quick peek inside your windows to see what’s worth breaking in to steal. It could be that they are looking for expensive TVs or easy to carry high value items such as games consoles or antiques. The last thing you want whilst you are away is to give a burglar a reason to break in, so invest in some net curtains or privacy blinds, and make sure you keep your valuable items somewhere they cannot be seen.

5. Buy a security timer

Ideally when you are going away you want it to look like you are still at home. A simple security timer isn’t expensive to buy and can give the impression of someone being in the house. They are usually really simple to operate and you can use them to turn on lights, the television or other appliances whilst you are away. With some you can programme them to do this at random times so there isn’t an obvious pattern for a burglar to detect.

Can our locksmith services help?

Whether you need a lock repairing, window locks installing, or some spare keys for the neighbour, we’d be happy to give you peace of mind by helping to make your home more secure.