The holiday season is upon us. It’s a time for coming together and celebrating, giving and receiving gifts, and being thankful and grateful for what we have. Unfortunately, it is also a time when we are susceptible to being victims of crime. Read on how to make the holiday season remembered for all the right reasons.
- Recycle
Yes, you read it correctly, and you may be questioning how your recycling can affect your potential for being a victim of crime. The cardboard boxes that you leave out on the curb for the recycling collection are a very clear indicator to people that you have recently had a whole lot of new equipment that is a prime target for intruders. Break up your cardboard boxes into smaller pieces so that they fit in bins.
- Light up
Install LED flood lights from E-conolight into your garden or yard so that your outside space is adequately lit. Pay attention to doorways and any dark passageways or vulnerable areas. Not only are you burglar proofing your outside space, but making it safer for you to use the space in the dark too. Invest in some timers for lamps for inside your home, so that they come on when it gets dark. Don’t light up your living spaces as this will just illuminate the fact the house is empty; instead, opt for lamps in hallways of upstairs rooms that will give the illusion of someone being home.
- Landscape
Don’t be tempted to leave your garden or yard to become neglected over winter. Just because you are not outside enjoying it like you do in milder seasons, it does not mean that you should allow it to become unkempt. Unkempt gardens provide ideal hiding places for intruders to watch your home from. Try to mow the lawn once again before winter becomes too harsh: people equate long grass lawns with homes whose occupants have gone away on vacation. Keep items such as ladders locked away in a garage or storage to prevent any opportunistic robbers from being able to access your home – they tend not to bring their own!
- Mirror, mirror on the wall
Mirrors are essential accessories for any interior; however, check what view your mirror can provide an outside inquisitive intruder. Can they see whether your security system is activated by looking in the mirror? Or, perhaps they can see the car keys on the console table? Step outside and look through the windows to examine what your mirror reflects, it may be more than you had hoped. Cut to size mirrors can help avoid the scenario where the current mirror is offering a view for potential intruders, fitting to dimensions that suit your house layout.
- If you can’t make it, fake it
From the street, an intruder will not be able to tell whether your CCTV cameras are real or dummy, and nor will they hang around to test it! You can also purchase decals of a fake alarm system to deter opportunistic thieves further. Another great trick to use is for your neighbors to leave footprints in the driveway and around the yard if it snows while you are away.
People rob houses as and when they see fit – if the right circumstances are aligned. They will not enter a home or property if they consider that the chances of getting caught are high. Use these tips to reduce the chances of your home being targeted so that you can enjoy the rest of the holiday season in peace.
These are good suggestions. I’m wondering, what about having a dog? Does having a dog that would hear an intruder make a significant difference?