Peace of mind while you’re away

Many burglaries occur when home owners are away on holidays. A house left empty for some time is a target for potential intruders.

By taking some simple precautions and giving your home a "lived in" look before you go away, can substantially reduce the risk of burglary.

Holiday checklist:

Before you go:

• Don’t post details of your holiday on social networking websites.
• Make sure your home looks like someone is living in it. Don’t close your curtains in daytime this shows the house is empty. Use automatic timer-switches to turn your lights on when it goes dark.
• Make sure you have strong locks on all downstairs or easily accessible windows.
• Cancel any milk or newspaper deliveries.
• Avoid discussing holiday plans where strangers may hear details of your absence from home.
• Cut the lawn before you go and trim back any plants that burglars could hide behind.
• Hide valuable items, like the television, away from where people can see them from through windows.
• Uncollected mail is a sign that you are away. The Royal Mail’s ‘ Keepsafe ’ (Opens in new window) service will keep your mail for up to two months while you are away.
• Consider leaving important documents and valuable items with other family members, at a bank, or in a safe. Ensure all valuable items are adequately marked. 
• Do not put your home address on your luggage when you are travelling to your holiday destination.
• Lock your shed, and put valuable items, like a bicycle, in the house.

When you leave:

• Make sure that you’ve locked all outside doors and windows and, if you have a burglar alarm, make sure it is set.
• Spend a couple of minutes checking that you’ve done all you had to do and taken everything you need with you.

Help from your neighbours:

• Ask them if they can collect your post, sweep up leaves, mow the lawn, and open and close curtains.
• They could even occasionally park their car on your driveway.
• Repay the favour by doing the same for them. Warn your neighbour not to put your surname, address or even your house number on your keys in case they fall into the wrong hands.
• Let your neighbour know when you will be away and, if you can, give them details so that they can contact you, or someone who can act on your behalf, in an emergency.
• Is there a Neighbourhood Watch scheme where you live? Visit the Neighbourhood Watch pages and see how to set one up. It could help you make your home more secure while you’re away, and has many other crime-prevention and community benefits.

And lastly….Don’t forget your passport and tickets!!

If you would like more advice on how to protect yourself from crime, telephone our crime reduction advisers on 0845 8 505 505 or visit www.thamesvalley.police.uk

Other useful website include:

• www.homeoffice.gov.uk

If you wish report a crime anonymously then call the CrimeStoppers charity on 0800 555 111.