Regardless of how relaxed you’re feeling about leaving your home, there’s still that thought that crosses your mind as you’re flying mid-air to your destination, or while you’re relaxing on the beach, or at the airport baggage carousel before heading home.
Before you know it, that little wandering thought around whether you locked the back door turns into worrying whether you’ll have a tv when you get home, or if they took your grandma’s precious jewels, or if they turned the house up side down, leaving it looking like a bombsite.
Even if you haven’t left the country and opted for a quick weekend trip, you could become a victim of crime.
There are a few things you can do to minimise your risk and prevent your home from being burgled.
The fact is, home break-ins are still one of the most widespread crimes in Australia, with over 200,000 break-ins recorded annually. That’s around 550 houses a day.
Police reports show that most break-ins occur as a result of insufficient security. What that tells us is people are overlooking the simplest ways to secure their home.
Could Your Home Be a Target?
Crime experts are well aware of the factors that make a home a target to theft, the main motivating factor being that the house appears to be unoccupied.
Here’s What Criminals Look For:
- No vehicles in the driveway
- No lights on in the evenings
- Accumulated mail and newspapers
- Rubbish bins left out
- No response to a knock on the door
Here’s How To Avoid Being A Target:
- Don’t leave a spare key “hidden” in easily found places
- Don’t tell the world you’re going away by posting on social media
- Don’t leave notes on the door telling people when you’ll be home
- Be aware that skylights and doggie doors can easily be used to enter your home
- Lock up your fuse box to prevent burglars from turning off the power with the goal of also turning off lights and alarms
