Don’t Let Thieves Turn Your Festive Cheer into Holiday Misery
Your home is one of the biggest and most important assets you own. Indeed, not only is it where you live, but it is also where the majority of your worldly possessions are kept. As such, it pays to make sure you’re protected.
According to UK Government statistics, the biggest threat to your home is burglary. In fact, out of the 5.6 million crimes reported to the police in 2005/2006, in England and Wales alone, property offences accounted for a massive 73 percent. Burglary levels are at their highest during the daytime, and also increase during the festive period.
So, wherever you live, it is essential that you take a few, basic precautions to reduce the likelihood of falling foul to thieves.
Installing household security may seem like a waste of money and time, especially if you live in a quiet area. However, research has revealed that properties with no security measures are at a much higher risk of burglary than those which are protected.
Therefore, taking the time to make sure your home is hard to break into will help to deter thieves. Fitting a burglar alarm is a great way to scare off potential burglars and there are a range of different devices on the market, which don’t have to cost the earth.
Ensuring you have adequate locks on all doors and windows is another must: check that they are all securely locked before you leave your property. In the same way, it is wise to make sure that no trees or shrubbery are concealing any of your doorways or windows, since this can provide an extra level of cover for burglars.
It is also important to keep any valuables in the house out of view. This includes equipment like TVs or computers, as well as money or jewellery. Additionally, write your postcode on all possible belongings with a UV pen, or take pictures of the things that you are unable to write on. This will help either recover stolen goods, or speed up insurance claims.
If you go out in the evening, it is vital to make it look as though you are at home. Consequently, leaving the curtains open and a light on will help to put potential intruders off. And, if you go on holiday, ask a neighbour or friend to regularly check your property.
Unfortunately, it is impossible to make your home completely burglar proof and there are some determined thieves out there. In light of this, it is absolutely crucial that you have adequate home contents insurance.
And when taking a policy out, make sure you accurately calculate the worth of all your contents, as many people grossly underestimate the value of their belongings. It might take a bit of time, but it will be worth it if the worst does happen.
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Victoria Cochrane writes for a digital marketing agency. This article has been commissioned by a client of said agency. This article is not designed to promote, but should be considered professional content.
