With summer just around the corner, it’s a good time to start thinking about keeping your home safe from burglars. Lighter evenings mean you may stay out for longer periods of time than you usually would, making it easier for thieves to gain access to the property without being spotted. There are plenty of steps you can take to make sure your property stays safe, though. And today I’m sharing my top ten with you here on my blog today.

01. Set Timers

Setting timers on any plug-in lamps you have so that they can turn on intermittently while you’re not there is an easy way to make it look as though you’re at home. There have been a few incidents in my local area recently where homes have been burgled while the occupants have been sat out in their gardens. Setting a timer on your plug-in lamps so they come on while you’re sat outside can also help because anyone lurking around waiting for an opportunity to break in will think that someone has decided to go indoors, therefore reducing the temptation to go through with it.

02. Hide Any Valuables

Avoid leaving any valuable items on display so that they won’t be easily seen by anyone walking past your window. I have a little safe where I keep valuable items such as expensive jewellery, gaming consoles, money and passports when they’re not in use and it gives me real peace of mind that no one can see them when they walk by. 

03. Fit an Alarm

Install an alarm system such as the Verisure Smart Alarm. This will be a major deterrent to burglars, and many alarm systems contact the homeowner and the police automatically in the event of an intrusion. Many home insurers offer a discount on premiums if you have an alarm fitted too, which is great if you’re looking to save yourself a bit of money in the long run.

04. Lock Up

This one probably goes without saying, but always make sure you lock your windows and doors before you go out, and at night before you go to bed. And, if any of your locks are insecure, I’d highly recommending replacing them with new ones to better protect your property.

05. Improve Your Boundaries

As well as ensuring your actual property is secure, make sure you check the boundaries around your home. Are the fences and hedges secure? Or are there any gaps in the that someone could easily squeeze through? Put in a gate if necessary – the more obstacles a burglar faces, the less appealing your property will become.

06. Keep Shrubs and Hedges Trimmed

Overgrown shrubs and hedges can reduce visibility, making it harder to spot if someone is trying to get into your property. So, it’s always a good idea to make sure your hedges are trimmed regularly so they can’t provide a hiding place for any unwanted visitors!

07. Join Your Local Neighbourhood Watch

Sign up to your local Neighbourhood Watch scheme if you have one. This means neighbours keep an eye out for each other’s properties and any suspicious activity. Display the scheme sticker in your window to show burglars that you’re a member and that others living nearby will be watching your home when you’re not around!

08. Talk to The Police

The police are always happy to give advice on home security measures and may even be prepared to visit your property to offer additional tips. Contact your local police station for more information on how they can help.

09. Install Security Lights

Another way to deter burglars from entering your home is to have outside security lights fitted. I personally like the sensor ones that detect movement and turn on if someone is on or near your property. And we actually have this kind fitted outside our own home. It can be annoying when the neighbours’ cat decides to pay us a visit in the middle of the night and sets it off, but at least we know it works! So far, we’ve only had one person (that we know of) come on to our property in the middle of the night, and they soon scarpered when the light came on. Pretty awesome, huh!?

10. Make Sure You Have Home Insurance

And last, but certainly not least, I highly recommend having comprehensive home insurance in place to protect you in case the worst should happen. It obviously won’t make the fact you’ve been burgled any less upsetting, but it will go a long way to ensuring that you don’t lose out financially. I usually use a comparison site like Compare the Market to compare policies from lots of different companies. Why not head on over and try them out for yourself?

And there you have it – my top ten tips for keeping your home safe and secure this summer. I hope you enjoyed having a read through them and that you found the article useful. Don’t forget to let me know if you use any of them and how they worked out for you if you did.

Do you have any other tips for keeping your home safe?
If so, let me know in the comments below!
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