Check your home security before going on holiday

Before going away on holiday, Trellidor suggests you go through the following list of measures to protect your home against criminal invasion:

• Assess your home's current security. Check that every door and window is secured with security gates or window barriers that aren't damaged or corroded. Badly maintained home security is no match for determined robbers. In the long run it's cheaper to replace security systems than stolen goods.
• Invest in layers of security. High quality expandable security doors and burglar guards should be your first security layer. As finances allow, add further layers such as good perimeter security, burglar alarms, movement sensors, panic buttons and armed response. Remember to notify your neighbours if you are going away.
• Be disciplined about using your home security devices. Close and lock your garage door. Keep security gates locked at all times and set your alarm. Ensure you have burglar proofing on all windows, no matter how small or inaccessible. Don't leave tools conveniently lying around for opportunistic criminals. Stop any regular deliveries to your home well in advance of your holiday. Small actions such as these add up to a home less attractive to criminals.
• Secure your business as well as your home. Burglary at business premises is increasing every year. Avoid becoming an easy target during the shut-down period by improving security measures.
• Don't buy into the myth of housing estates being completely secure. Trellidor consultants are seeing increasing reports of break-ins at ‘secure' complexes. Follow Trellidor's tips for securing your home in a complex, and take responsibility for your own security rather than leaving it to the body corporate or homeowners' association.

Trellidor's Holiday Security Checklist

	Entire home checked for weak points that need additional security such as new barriers on doors, windows and in passageways. Don't forget outbuildings.
	Alarm tested and in good working order.
	All door and security gate locks tested and keys in safe place.
	All sliding security gates closed and locked.
	Garage doors locked and no automatic gate or garage door controls left lying around.
	Shrubs around entrances trimmed so that they don't offer concealment to intruders and garden tidied to look ‘lived in' while residents away.
	Lights connected to timers or movement sensors.
	Newspapers and other home deliveries cancelled for the period residents are away and someone arranged to collect post.
	No mobile phones or other small valuables left lying around.
	List of emergency numbers near telephone or programmed into mobile phone e.g. local police station, fire station, ambulance service and letting agent's after hours number.
	Neighbourhood Watch informed of period house will be unoccupied.

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