How To Secure Your Home This Christmas

Christmas is a time for celebration with whole families getting together, often for the only time all year round. And everybody should try and find some time to wind down, relax, and maybe have a few drinks. After all, we're back to a 9-5 lifestyle once Christmas has passed.



However, it is still wise to take the same precautions you would through the rest of the year, such as ensuring your home is secure from intruders and other dangers. So, here's a look at how to keep your home secure this Christmas.

Keep Valuables and Gifts Out of Sight

Unfortunately, Christmas is an opportunity for some people to try and benefit by breaking into homes and stealing Christmas gifts. Plus, of course, any other valuables in the house at the time can also be targeted.

It's well-known that the vast majority of burglaries are opportunistic, with the perpetrators taking perceived opportunities for personal gain. And one way to limit the appearance of an opportunity is by keeping gifts and other valuables out of sight to passers-by.

This doesn't mean you have to hide everything away, but at least make it less obvious to potential intruders that your property might be worth breaking into. For example, depending on the layout of your home, you can have your Christmas tree and gifts in a corner, out of sight to people outside looking in.

Have Exterior Lighting Installed

Potential intruders prefer darkened places in and around your property where they are less visible to yourself or your neighbours. Dark areas will help give them cover where they can wait and hide for the right time to move in. Thus, making sure your property is well-lit will make your home a less attractive target to potential thieves.

If you don't want to have exterior lights on permanently, then you can make them motion-triggered so they turn on whenever something in range moves. This approach can be more effective because it can give the impression that somebody is home and awake. You can also use motion sensing technology in other ways to protect your home, such as CCTV cameras that start recording once triggered.

And don't forget that installing exterior lighting at Christmas is a great opportunity to install bright Christmas decorations that will help brighten up your home and the neighbourhood. With a little imagination, you can find a great-looking way to illuminate your home externally throughout the year.

Update Your Locks

Even the toughest of locks will lose their strength over the years, potentially creating a weak spot that leaves your home vulnerable. As such, it's a good idea to examine your locks to be sure they're in good working order and just as strong as they always have been. Of course, if a lock is past its best, it's a good idea to replace it with a new one.

Not only have new locks not undergone wear and tear yet, but they are also made using the latest technology. This technology helps ensure that your locks can't be physically broken, while it's also harder for them to be picked.

Getting a new lock is also a good idea if you have had lodgers or other people move out recently. The fewer people who have access to keys to your home, the more secure your home is. You should also be careful about leaving any spares lying around and keep them in a secure location instead.

Check Your Doors

No lock can keep an intruder out if they can just break down the doors instead. And doors can become weakened over time, potentially making it easier for somebody to force their way in. Old doors are also less likely to have features like multiple locking points that help make the door stronger still.

Some burglars will use sledgehammers and similar tools to force their way in. They will be well aware that the noise will attract attention, but they'd hope to be in and out before the authorities can arrive. The stronger the door, the longer it will take for intruders to break in, helping to keep your property safe.

While checking your doors, it's also a good idea to check your frames. After all, the strongest of doors can easily be bypassed if the frame holding them is weakened.

Check Your Windows

Don't forget that Windows also make potential entry points so they too should be strong and secure, including the frames. If you can, make sure you keep them locked, especially at night to prevent intruders from gaining entry. And remember that it only takes a small space for somebody to gain access, so make sure every window of your home is secure.

And remember that new widows are not only a safety issue. Depending on how old your existing windows are, they might be energy inefficient, especially if they are single-glazed. The energy savings will often repay the investment many times over, even before you consider the additional security new windows will offer.

You can also use the occasion to decorate your windows in a snowy, Christmas theme, making it harder for people to look inside. With gifts and other valuables less visible, potential thieves are less likely to target your home.

Get a Dog

Dogs truly are man's best friends and make wonderful companions, often becoming a close family member. And not only are they fun to have around, but they can also serve practical purposes, such as helping to keep intruders out. Even if you choose a small dog that won't intimidate potential thieves, it can still be an effective sentry that alerts you to somebody trying to break in. All it takes in many cases, is to have a sign letting people know you have a dog, and potential burglars will look elsewhere instead.

However, it's important to remember that a dog really is for life and not just for Christmas. They do require a commitment, including a good diet, training, plenty of exercise and lots of love. But take care of your four-legged friend and they will love you in return and strive to ensure your whole family is safe.

Install CCTV

CCTV makes for an effective deterrent, helping prevent potential intruders from setting foot on your property. After all, CCTV makes it much more likely they will be recognized and caught, which everybody would rather avoid. Should somebody not be perturbed by CCTV, the technology will at least make justice more likely and you might even get your valuables back.

Modern CCTV systems can also include triggers that will notify you if they notice something. And apps will even let you see CCTV images on your smartphone, helping you take any action necessary. This might mean calling the authorities or maybe calling the person on camera if you know them.

Another security system you can install is alarms, which also help make an effective deterrent. And if an intruder does trip an alarm, they know to get away from the area as quickly as possible to avoid getting caught.

When having CCTV or alarms fitted, it's a good idea to ensure they're clearly visible so people know to keep clear of your property and choose another target instead.

Have a Safe Room Installed

If you have the budget, then having a safe room installed will help keep everybody inside safe from intruders. Safe rooms are typically very difficult to break into, protecting people inside until the authorities can arrive. Safe rooms can also be useful for other emergencies, such as protection from tornadoes and hurricanes.

It's also a good idea to keep your safe room reasonably well-stocked at all times because you never know when you might need it. Make sure to store some drinking water and tinned food, bedding, and maybe some books or other entertainment.

Summary

Above are just a few of the ways you can help keep your home secure this Christmas. In many cases, some simple vigilance will make a big difference, and it's often not necessary to spend a penny to make your home safer.

However, it's still a good idea to check your locks and fittings to ensure everything is secure and consider making replacements where necessary. Having new lighting installed and being discreet about gifts and other valuables will also help make your home a target. Regardless, take the appropriate precautions and your home will be a safe and cosy place this Christmas.