With Summer just around the corner and the warmer weather setting in, you’ll be more inclined to open the doors and leave the windows open to get fresh, cool breezes through your home. But leaving your home open may increase the risk of break-ins and create an easy way for intruders to gain entry into your home.
The safety of your home and family is the most important, so before the heat of summer hits, here are Crimsafe’s top 10 tips to improve your home security:
- Use key-operated locks on doors and windows – and don’t hide spare keys under doormats or in obvious places for crooks to find them easily.
- Install intruder-resistant security screens on all windows and doors to keep your family safe during the summer crime season.
- Don’t give burglars any privacy to work in, for example, keep plants trimmed around doors and windows and install sensor lights or CCTV cameras.
- Make your home look occupied even when you are not at home – leave a light on and the TV or radio playing.
- If you have an alarm system, make sure it is working properly. When alarms go off frequently by mistake, people start to ignore them.
- Don’t leave cash and keys out in easy view for opportunistic thieves.
- Mark valuable property with a microdot or engraving, so it is less appealing to steal.
- If you’re going away on holidays, set lights to come on with a timer and ask a neighbour to collect your mail and take care of bins. Arrange to have the lawns mowed regularly.
- If you are going away for an extended time, notify the local police station that you will be away.
- If you do hear an intruder in the home, don’t risk injury. Dial triple zero (000) at the earliest opportunity, leave the house immediately and go to a neighbour or somewhere safe to contact and wait for the police.
(And here’s an extra one – if you would like help with your home security, you can find your nearest Crimsafe Authorised Dealer by clicking here https://crimsafe.nz/find-a-supplier/)
