Tommy has over 15 years experience within the insurance industry, and his primary focus is helping travellers find the right cover for their medical conditions.
Here are some top tips before you go away
During the holiday season, burglaries can be rife in the UK – particularly due to the nation’s penchant for updating their social media with shots of #beachlife. Yet, even if you keep schtum about your whereabouts on your platform of choice, it’s not too hard for the savvy opportunist to spot when a home has been left unattended.
Here’s how to keep your property safe while you’re on holiday, so you can enjoy your downtime with as much peace of mind as possible.
Make it look like somebody’s home
While it may not be possible to set up moving mannequins a la Kevin McCallister in Home Alone when making your house look occupied, there are plenty of achievable tricks you can employ. Cancel newspapers and other deliveries, mow the lawn and ask a neighbour to pop by to open and close the curtains on occasion as well as water any plants and pick up your post.
You can also set up a light switch timer or a photosensitive light bulb which turns on when the darkness reaches a certain level. Keep prying eyes guessing.
Lock your valuables away
Remove the temptation for a swift smash and grab by keeping all valuables away from your windows. It’s also important to secure your most precious possessions inside the house, just in case an intruder does gain entry.
Avoid the obvious hiding places such as the freezer, under the mattress or your trusty sock drawer, and divide up the treasure so your valuables are spread around. You could even leave some cash and some inexpensive jewellery in a more obvious hiding place in the hope that an unwelcome visitor will be more concerned with getting out as quickly as possible with a prize rather than going through your whole home with a fine tooth comb. Otherwise, simply leave your valuables with a trusted friend in your absence.
Invest in new technology
Burglar alarms are an excellent deterrent to intruders, but they aren’t the only gadget that can help keep your home safe. Smart security cameras can record 24/7 and even send you an email or phone notification if anything untoward has been spotted. Security lights, positioned outside, will put off the burglar who prefers to operate under cover of darkness. And if it’s the contents of your shed you want to protect, heavy-duty padlocks even come with their own alarms these days.
No matter how many precautions you take to keep your home safe when you’re on holiday, it’s still essential to invest in robust home insurance, just in case. The same can be said of taking care of yourself and your loved ones while on your travels.