The holidays are a time to spend with the people you love. That can mean spending time away from your home to visit family and friends. Whether you will be away for a few hours or a few days, there are precautions you can take to avoid break-ins. As an expert in home security services, GardaWorld has put together 5 practical tips for keeping your home and family safe this holiday season.
1. Don’t advertise that you will be away from home.
Although it’s tempting to announce your exciting holiday plans on social media, resist the urge. Would-be intruders will be keeping an eye on social media accounts for clues about which homes will be unoccupied. You can always post about the fun times you had after the fact.
If you really can't do without it, take your preventive measures before you leave home. Plug in your alarm or if you don’t have one, learn more about the solutions GardaWorld Security Systems has to offer.
2. Make sure you always follow fire safety precautions.
If you happen to live in a cold climate, you may be more likely to light candles or use a fireplace. Be sure not to leave candles unattended while you’re home and be sure to put out any flames when you step out.
It’s also important to ensure you have a working smoke detector or better yet, one that’s connected to a monitoring centre. You can also help prevent electrical fires by ensuring plugs are not overloaded.
3. Keep an eye on your home while you’re away.
If you happen to be away from your home, new technology today allows you to monitor your home from wherever you are, through an app linked to your security system. The best systems and apps send you alerts if there’s an attempted intrusion, or simply if motion is detected outside your front door.
You can even get a video replay showing exactly what happened. Plus, some security systems allow you to arm your system remotely if you forgot to do so as you were leaving your home.
4. Let trusted neighbours know that you’ll be away.
If you’re going away for an extended period of time, inform your neighbours so they can help keep an eye on your home for you. Be sure to leave them your phone number, so they can call you if they notice any suspicious activity.
5. Put your deliveries on pause.
Many people have been shopping online more since the start of the pandemic, which means more packages delivered to homes. If you’re going away for more than a day, make sure no deliveries are expected during that time. The last thing you want is a pile of packages left in front of your door, since this is a clear indication that no one is home, not to mention an open invitation for thieves to steal from you. If you have already placed an order for delivery, see if you can have the delivery re-routed to a neighbour’s house instead.
Safety and security are not to be taken lightly, especially around the holidays. By following the safety tips outlined above, you can celebrate the festive season while ensuring that your home and family are protected. If you live in Quebec (Canada), you can also opt for the peace of mind that comes with a GardaWorld security system.
For more information, contact us.
