Take Care of Your Home Security Before You Go On Holiday

Bedfordshire Police is reminding the public to make sure they check their home security if they are planning to go away on their annual summer holiday this year.

Over the summer months lots of us choose to visit relatives, friends and other countries while the children are on holiday from school but this also means our homes are often left empty and burglars will always notice the tell-tale signs of an empty property.

Post piling up on the floor close to the front door, weekly newspapers and post left hanging out the letter box, curtains not pulled at night with no lights showing and no noise emanating from a home, are just a few of the signs that tell a burglar no one’s home.

Here are just a few tips that can help keep your property safe over the summer months:

• Ask a neighbour or friend to keep an eye on your property and ask them to remove all mail from the door so it does not pile up on the floor.
• If your home is fitted with a burglar alarm – use it – but remember to tell someone you trust how to disarm it should they need to do so for an emergency.
• Lock all windows, doors and gates securely.
• Cancel newspaper and milk deliveries.
• Attach a light and radio to a timer so it looks and sounds like someone is home.
• Leave contact details with a friend or a neighbour should they need to contact you in an emergency.
• Don’t leave spare keys, cash or other valuables lying around your home.

• And remember, to Smartwater your valuables in case you do fall prey to a burglar, and register mobile phones, MP3 players and other electrical equipment free on the National Phone Register, which can be found at http://www.immobilise.com/ or http://www.menduk.org/. The chances of a lost or stolen phone or other equipment being returned are far increased if owners take the time to record and mark them in this way.

If you would like crime reduction advice you can speak with a Crime Reduction Officer in your area by contacting Bedfordshire Police on 101or text 07786 200011, or contact your local policing team by visiting http://www.bedfordshire.police.uk/