Island Life Magazine Ltd August/September 2010 | Page 21

property

Island Life - August/September 2010

Going away for holidays?
Summer time and it’s a chance for
many of us to get away on a well
earned holiday. However when we
are away, thieves are often on the
look-out for homes that look empty,
particularly during holiday-times.
Mark Lee, Director at Lifeline Alarm
Systems Ltd, in conjunction with
the Home Office web site, have put
together a few recommendations to
help prevent your home from being a
victim of robbery.
When you go away, try to make your
home look like someone is living in it,
for example don't close your curtains.
In daytime this shows your house is
empty. Also, you may wish to consider
the use of automatic timer-switches
to turn your lights and or radios on
when it goes dark. This can prove
to be a good deterrent giving the
impression of occupancy. You may
wish to do this even if you are just
going out for the evening.
Make sure you cancel any newspaper

or milk deliveries, but be careful how
much information you actually give
away and to whom. The accumulation
of mail sitting on your doorstep is a
sign that you are away. The Royal Mail
offer a “keepsafe” service – whereby
they keep your mail for up to 2
months while you're away.
Trusted neighbours may be able
to help you by collecting your post,
opening and closing curtains and they
could park their car on
your driveway.
Avoid discussing holiday
plans where strangers may
over hear details of your
absence from home. The
fewer number of people
that know about your
exact plans the better.
Leave important
documents and valuable
items with other family
members or a bank.
Alternatively lock them in

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a safe.
If you normally leave valuable
bicycles or similar items in your shed,
consider putting them in the house.
Make sure that you lock all outside
doors and windows and set your
burglar alarm. Don’t forget to
inform your intruder alarm company
of your vacation and provide any
further contact details in the event of
emergency.

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