How to secure your home against theft over the Christmas period?

Christmas and the associated rush of things to do is a perfect time for criminals to act. Shopping centres are overcrowded not only with customers, but also with pickpockets who count on loot in the form of wallets filled with cash. Burglars target abandoned houses and flats. Properties that have been left vacant for a few days during the Christmas holidays are the most sought-after targets. At this time neighbours are usually busy with their own affairs and there is less traffic on the streets, so it is easier to hide from the unwanted eyes of potential witnesses. So how can you make life more difficult for a thief and protect yourself from a burglary?

Above all, do not leave your home in a hurry. Most thieves work with common tools and get into your property through windows. You should therefore check the premises thoroughly to make sure that windows and doors are securely closed before you leave. According to the police, up to 80% of burglaries are committed through windows [1]. This also applies to less frequented areas and small windows, for example in the boiler room, cellar or utility room. All locks and security devices should be in good working order, so it is a good idea to repair any faults as they occur. You should also not leave keys in easily accessible hiding places, e.g. behind door frames or under doormats.

You also may be interested in:    Burglary – how to protect yourself?

If you have significant assets, it is better to be discreet and not disclose information about planned trips. This is especially true on social media, which are also watched by burglars. We like to share our experiences there, take photos and boast about atmospheric, special moments in our accounts. Unfortunately, this is a simple way of letting those around us know that we are not at home and will not be returning any time soon, and that we are wealthy enough to be spending Christmas far abroad. This information first goes out to people who know us, watch our profile and may know where we live. It is therefore worth ensuring that only those closest to us know about our trip, and save any sharing of impressions until after we are home. Notifying your closest and most trusted people of your plans to leave, on the other hand, is a good idea. Perhaps someone will agree to look after our home while we are away?

If a neighbour is about to visit the flat during your absence, it is better to meet him/her in person and hand over the keys. A quick visit of a third person is also an additional advantage in the form of pretending the presence of household members, which discourages a potential thief. It is also worth remembering that a criminal wants to operate in silence and remain unnoticed. Good lighting of the property, roller shutters, anti-burglary doors and windows, as well as an alarm system, are effective safeguards and good ways to make the burglars' task more difficult.

In the case of the aforementioned group of robbers, it is difficult to come up with a solution that they will not be able to break through. However, most thieves are not that skilled and get into homes in a mundane way by breaking glass or forcing door locks. Nevertheless, skilled burglars with the right equipment get inside a property within 40 seconds. It takes them no more than a few minutes to remove the valuables. At the same time, there is therefore financial loss and damage. It would therefore not hurt to invest in burglar-proof doors or reinforced windows, whose coating is difficult to destroy.

Monitoring and an alarm system are also standard nowadays. Often, however, by the time the intervention team arrives, valuables have already been removed. However, it is possible to secure the house already at the front line, i.e. at the fence. Sensors are then placed in the garden, which react to the pressure of a person's foot on the ground and on a movement. If the sirens go off early enough, the services gain a few precious minutes to arrive. Nowadays, many properties are also installing intelligent home automation systems that pose as the presence of householders and are equipped with video intercoms that allow the view around the house to be viewed remotely, e.g. with a smartphone. This kind of fortification strengthens protection, but in no way secures the property if a burglar forces through the security. However, you can also prepare for such an eventuality by investing in a burglar-proof safe, which will be a last but – under certain conditions, which are discussed below – reliable line of defence.

Check out the HARTMANN TRESORE home safes

However, you can never be sure that a burglary will not happen. The most attractive loot for thieves is money and objects which are easy to cash. This was discovered by residents of the Polesie district in Łódź, who had banknotes with a total value of over PLN 6,000 stolen from their flat at Christmas [2]. Had they had a safe and kept the money there, they might not have suffered such a loss at all. So if you keep cash at home, it should always be kept in a solid burglar-proof safe. This also applies to works of art, valuable electronics, jewellery, watches and other valuables.

A high-quality burglary safe does not have to be large. You can successfully hide it in furniture, such as a wardrobe or desk. In some cases, it is also possible to place the safe in the wall or floor, but this solution applies only to detached houses. When choosing the right model, you should pay attention to its burglary resistance class, the type of locks used, as well as the certificates held and the installation itself. A badly mounted container will not serve its purpose and may, for example, be taken out of the flat. However, if you choose a safe from a reputable manufacturer and additionally insure your property, you can minimise potential losses, even if a burglary occurs.

Additional protection is also provided by advanced locking systems and the possibility of connecting the safe to an alarm system. Even if it were to be opened, the relevant services are then immediately informed of the intrusion.

Check how to protect your home against theft and burglary. 

We love to decorate our homes and flats with Christmas lights. During this period, cities swarm with colourful chains that illuminate balconies, and we love to leave the lights on the Christmas tree, which we have decorated together with the family all evening, on overnight. In such conditions, it is not difficult to short-circuit and catch fire. Even a spark thrown on the Christmas tree, ornaments or curtains can cause a fire with catastrophic consequences in a matter of minutes. Therefore, when thinking about a safe in the context of Christmas, it is worth considering a device that guarantees certified fire resistance of at least 60 minutes. In the case of fireproof safes of a fairly compact size, the difference in price is not great, and you gain versatile equipment.

If you choose a safe from a reputable manufacturer and, in addition, good insurance for your flat or property, you will minimise potential losses even if a break-in occurs. This is a long-term investment that quickly pays off in the form of peace of mind every time you leave. So let's ensure that your house or flat is sufficiently protected against thieves.

[1] http://www.polityka.pl/tygodnikpolityka/rynek/218377,1,jak-zabezpieczyc-nasz-dom-przed-zlodziejami.read
[2] http://www.dzienniklodzki.pl/artykul/9162854,uwaga-na-zlodziei-najwiecej-wlaman-jest-w-swieta,id,t.html