Off On Your Summer Holidays? Here's What Burglars Are Hoping You'll Forget

Summer is peak burglary season. While most people associate break-ins with dark winter nights, the reality is that the summer holiday period consistently sees a rise in residential burglaries. Empty streets, houses left unoccupied for a fortnight, and the forgetting last-minute security checks  all contribute to that.

The good news is that most break-ins are opportunistic. A home that looks secure, occupied, and well-maintained is far less likely to be targeted than one that's obviously sitting empty. Here's what we'd recommend before you head off.

1.     Don't Make It Obvious You're Gone

Ordinarily, after a week away your house will show clear signs of being uninhabited – post building up behind the door, bins left out, no lights on in the evening. These are small signals which, combined, act as a neon sign signalling ‘we’re not home’.

Ask a neighbour to collect your post, put the bins out on collection day and generally keep an eye out. If you have a driveway, having a neighbour park on it occasionally can also help.

2.    Check Everything Before You Leave – Not Just the Front Door

Most people lock the front door out of habit, tick. But the side gate, the garage, the back patio doors, the upstairs windows, they tend to be forgotten.

In summer, windows and patio doors are often left on the latch to air the house, and it's easy to forget to check them before leaving. Walk through every room before you go and check each window opening. Patio and French doors in particular are a common weak point. Patlocks physically secure internal handles and make it significantly harder to force the doors open even if the lock is compromised. If you have Patio/French doors, a Patlock can provide an additional layer of security.

3.     Take a Proper Look at Your Locks

If you've not thought about your locks in a few years, now is a good time. Older mortice locks may not meet current British Standards, and worn cylinder locks can be vulnerable to techniques like lock snapping – something that's become increasingly common.

We fit Ultion 3 Star Plus cylinders, which meet the latest TS007 3-Star standard and carries both Secured by Design's Police Preferred Specification and Sold Secure Diamond accreditation. They're designed specifically to resist the kinds of attack that older cylinders can't handle.

We can also check your existing locks and advise whether they need replacing or whether what you have is fine. We'd rather tell you your locks are adequate than sell you something you don't need.

4.    Think About What You're Leaving Inside and On Show

A camera, laptop, or games console left visible from a window is worth removing from sight before you go. If you have valuables that you'd rather not leave unsecured, a home safe may be worth considering.

We supply and install Chubbsafes HomeVault safes, which offer up to £4,000 cash cover and are suitable for everyday home use.

Pop into our safe showroom if you'd like to see a range of options, or get in touch for a survey.

5.     Make the House Look Lived In

An empty house in the evening is easy to spot. A couple of inexpensive steps can change that.

We stock TV simulators that produce a realistic light effect indoors, mimicking the flickering glow of a television. We offer a Wi-Fi floodlight camera that combines motion-activated lighting with live camera access and two-way audio, meaning you can see what's happening at your home and speak to anyone at the door, from anywhere.

Or you can choose the more basic options: installing CCTV cameras, ensuring your house alarm is working properly and even putting your lamps on a timer in the evenings to mimic an active house environment.

Not Sure What Your Home Actually Needs?

Security advice can sometimes feel like a sales pitch. Our approach is straightforward: we'll look at what you have, tell you what's working, and only recommend changes where they'd make a genuine difference.

If you'd like a security check before your holiday, give us a call on 0114 272 4742 or visit us at Security House, Shalesmoor, Sheffield.

Have a great holiday and come back to a home exactly as you left it.