Did you know burglaries increase by up to 20% over the winter months?

With Christmas coming up, homes are often left vacant for events with family and friends, shopping trips and winter breaks. You’ve also probably starting filling your home with the latest gadgets and gifts. If this sounds familiar, we’ve created a guide to keeping your property safe this winter.

Jewellery, electrical devices and cash are the most common stolen items in burglaries. Make sure these items are locked away in a home safe that is secured to the floor or wall. Alternatively make sure all expensive items cannot be seen from windows or doors, for easy access for burglars.

As obvious as it may seem, make sure you lock all doors and windows when leaving your property, and double check you’ve done so! Research has found a huge 20% of us admit to leaving our front doors unlocked.

Did you know thousands of burglaries are committed using poorly hidden spare keys? If you have to leave a spare key outside your property, invest in a smart lock with a PIN code. Never leave your key under a plant pot!

When investing in a new door lock, make sure the lock meets the British Standard BS3621. Or if you have a PVCu or composite door, consider upgrading the cylinder to a British Standard, TS007 Kitemarked model.

If you’re going away for a few days or longer, look to purchase a light timer that will switch on lights for some time in the evening. Switching on lights for a few hours in the evening will trick thieves in thinking you’re at home.

When going away on holiday, don’t share information on social media until you are back home safely. Some thieves look for opportunities online and social media is the first place they’ll look to find out where you are.

Smart home security is growing in popularity, and for good reason. Invest in a smart lock with a secure access PIN code or an integrated alarm system so you can view who’s at your home and when, via your mobile device.

Invest in a letter-plate restrictor to stop criminals from hanging keys through your letterbox and getting to your door lock.

If 24 hour CCTV protection is too expensive, we would recommend investing in security lighting to increase visibility around your property. Lights are a good deterrent for thieves.

As the dark nights approach, you are unlikely to be spending time in the garden. Make sure you don’t leave tools or garden furniture lying around your garden. Place expensive items in locked garages and sheds using a heavy-duty, weatherproof padlock.

If you would like to know more about keeping your property safe throughout the winter, or if you’d like to know if a property you rent or a property you’re looking to buy may feature some of these security elements, get in touch with our expert team.