Home & Away Secure

You’re not expecting anything to happen but here’s some advice on how to gain peace of mind:

What to do?

• Upgrade basic security - read the following article Secure Home after this.
• Switch on your house alarm but ensure it's not going to activate through your fault and annoy the neighbourhood whilst your are away for 2 weeks! Consider connecting it to a home monitoring service. Some home security systems can even connect the CCTV to stream live footage to your mobile phone.
• Don’t advertise that you’re away using social media.

• Ask a neighbour with two cars to park one on your driveway.
• If you’re going on ‘safari’ for months consider telling the Neighbourhood Watch and the Gardai. You’re advised to contact your home insurance who might have extra conditions in the small print.
• Curtains open or closed? If they’re closed your neighbourhood watch ‘neighbours’ won’t notice the burglars inside, leave them open and your house is noticeable at night. The answer is to leave them in-between or as you usually do and if you’re concerned enough then ask a neighbour to help daily.
• Lights on or off? The simple solution is to use a timer plug to operate bedside lamps at normal times.
• Pull the power plugs out of any unused device. This protects them against a power surge and you’ll know everything is powered off too.
• Cut your grass before you leave so that it doesn’t stand out among your neighbours if your away for 2 weeks or more. Alternatively ask a neighbour to cut it when they do theirs and to water any pot plants too if needed.

• Don’t leave a key under the mat, or the stone, or pot plant….. give it to someone to hold instead. It’s a good idea to leave a spare key with someone near home in case you lose yours on holidays. Leave a key with neighbours or close by family to check the mail box or look out for deliveries.
• Hide or lock away valuables especially jewelry boxes which are quick easy targets. A small safe is a deterrent but a burglar might also take it with them if they’re not properly secured in place.
• Install an outdoor motion sensor lights which speaks for itself and is very usefully anyway when you return on a dark winter night. Battery operated ones inside the house are very practical and very bright too.
• I don't think anyone has one but disconnect any automatic garage door opener since some can be opened by universal remote controls.
• Advertise the 'presence' of your security with stickers, even if the CCTV cameras are fake and you don’t own a big, mean, angry dog.
• Stop deliveries of the newspaper, and ensure the pile of letters can't be seen from outside!

• Read Trip Adviser and other sites where people give frank details of what they experienced. Some countries and cities are considered unsafe but I guess you’ll know about this before you book. It's a good ideas to put your accommodation’s reception and emergency phone number into your mobile on arrival together with the address and insert the ‘google map’ location too in case you get lost.
• Check if your venue has alarms, manned security patrols, CCTV and is reception manned 24hrs?. Portable battery powered door alarms are available.
• Use the room security safe, a reception safe or even better again check if there's a safety deposit bank nearby. Google ‘how to open room safes’ and try the tricks and numbers on the one you receive since burglars watch the same YouTube videos so ensure it’s not false sense of security.
• Make a copy of all your passports, driving licences, bank and credit cards and either leave them with someone at home in case you need the details or email a copy to yourself.
• Put the bank emergency phone number into your phone in case you need it. Always have a backup card or cash among your fellow travelers.

• Ground floor rooms are more at risk than floors 3 and above. Learn the escape routes and see if you can enter another apartment from your balcony.
• Some sliding doors lock when closed and are without a handle on the outside – don’t get stuck the wrong side! Are the windows lockable too?
• Trackers can be placed discretely in suitcases.