12th December, 2022

The festive season is now in full swing as people across the UK begin their Christmas shopping. However, this means that there’s items within the home for a thief to target – especially as many people are out enjoying the festivities. So, we’ve rounded up some hints and tips to help you keep your home safe this Christmas…

First things first, we may be stating the obvious here, but make sure that all doors and windows are locked when you’re asleep or out of the house. Outdoor Christmas lights are often powered by an inside source with wires fed through a cracked window, which someone could open further and climb inside. Try to source an outside electricity point or unplug the lights so that the window can be closed properly – it might seem like a pain, but it’s better to be safe than sorry.

If you’re leaving the house for a longer period of time, perhaps visiting family or heading off on a festive getaway, it might be wise to make it look like someone is still at home. Many people opt for a timer on their lights, which turns them on and off at certain times to make it look as though someone is inside – you can also buy plug-in timers for your TV and radio.

Are you one of the lucky ones that gets along with their neighbours? Great – hopefully they’re willing to help you out. A driveway that’s left empty for a long time, or your bin being the only one left out on the street, are easy-to-spot signs that the house is probably empty. So ask your neighbour to bring your bins in and park on your driveway from time to time to deter anyone with bad intentions.

Speaking of relying on your neighbours, it’s a good idea to specify a ‘safe place’ for any deliveries that might arrive whilst you’re not at home so that they’re not left out on show for anyone who walks by.  If you don’t want to leave them at someone else’s house, then you can specify a safe place on the delivery instructions, such as inside a bin or by the back door.

Also, keep in mind that even an empty parcel box can be useful for a person looking to carry out some Christmas crime. A stack of opened boxes or shopping bags near the bin is pretty much like holding up a sign that says “Hey! Look what’s inside my house right now”, so remember to properly break them up and dispose of them where they won’t be in full view of the street.

Keeping your items out of sight whilst inside is also important. We all love to put our beautifully wrapped presents underneath the Christmas tree, but someone could easily peer in to see what’s there. To avoid this, try to place them somewhere that isn’t easily spotted from the window.

Finally, check your home insurance to make sure that you are covered should the worst happen - take a look at our previous blog for further insight on this. Don’t forget to keep hold of your receipts, as these can be used as proof of purchase in the event that you have to claim for theft of these items.


Written by: Shannan Errington

*Please note that the above information has been gathered through secondary research. The information provided is not based on our opinion. You should seek further guidance and information before making an informed decision.

Sources
https://www.theguardian.com/money/2021/dec/06/how-to-keep-your-home-safe-from-burglars-at-christmas
https://www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/mortgageshome/article-2249940/Dont-fall-victim-Christmas-burglary.html
https://www.idealhome.co.uk/news/how-not-to-get-burgled-this-christmas-217820