Your holiday period needs security
A SAFE HOME – CAREFREE HOLIDAY PERIOD
You're already on the plane, your dream of sunbathing by the sea is getting closer and suddenly the alarm bells are ringing - have I taken care of the mail, are all windows and doors closed, are the alarm systems working, will the flowers be taken care of while I'm away?
If these thoughts about a safe home do not only arise at the beginning of the holiday trip, then you will answer all the questions with a confident "YES" and can quickly push aside the understandable holiday nervousness and look forward to your well-deserved vacation - because you have taken precautions in good time that your home is as secure as possible.
If, on the other hand, you find that there are a lot of "NO" and "UNCERTAIN" in your answers, then we hope that you still enjoy nice days and that your home is not the target of a burglary.
There is no guarantee that your home will not be broken into while you are on holiday. But the risk can be greatly minimized by taking a few security measures.
The good news is that some of these measures are free!
HOW TO MAKE YOUR HOME SECURE
Your home should always be safe, of course. And especially when you're on vacation, you don't want to worry about whether your home is safe enough.
Free of charge
It has happened to each of us - the tilted window or the unlocked balcony door. You simply forget about it, are distracted by stress or children or wanted to walk the dog for a few minutes.
Make sure you close all windows and doors, even if you are only going for a short time. Before you go on vacation, go through the entire house, check all the windows and balcony doors and, at the very end, lock the front door. Don't forget the basement - the view is often directed upwards and the tilted basement window is overlooked.
Garages, tool sheds and garden gates are also to be locked off.
If your garbage cans are in front of the house, the garbage disposal will select the bin for organic, plastic or residual waste for emptying. The situation is different if the waste containers are on the property and have to be brought to the door for collection. If a bin is missing - it happens that it is so full that it is not worth emptying it or you forget to put it out - it is not immediately obvious that the owner is on vacation. If you stay away for a longer period of time, you might notice that there is no rubbish in front of the house. In such cases, ask your neighbors to put the bins out. Thieves don't look in the bins first to see if they're full or empty when they break in. At first glance, everything looks the same as the bins have been set up. Maybe the neighbor will be happy if he can dispose of some of his rubbish in your bins - it's worth making an appointment!
An overflowing mailbox is noticed even more quickly than a missing dustbin. If you receive a daily newspaper, cancel it in good time or forward it to your holiday address if you wish.
Perhaps the label “no advertising” is stuck to your mailbox, but this wish is not always met or you are happy to find out who has which campaigns in the program. Normally, the mailbox is emptied daily. Who will do this task in your absence?
Depending on availability, ask family members, friends or neighbors to empty the mailbox regularly. This gives the impression that the mail is taken out quite normally and the overflowing mailbox is not an indication that nobody is at home.
By the way - a note on the mailbox with the inscription "I'm on vacation" or "Come back on Monday" is an invitation to pay a visit to your home!
Ladders, boxes and garden furniture standing around not only fulfill their purpose, but are often used as access aids for upper floors. Anyone who thinks the burglar cannot reach the tilted window on the first floor is wrong! If possible, anchor your patio furniture so that it cannot simply be pushed against the window and bring ladders, boxes etc. into a shed/garage and lock these storage options.
We all have a need to communicate, especially when it comes to beautiful things. We would love to share our happiness with the whole world – look how well I'm doing in this beautiful hotel in Greece or don't you agree that this Paris is simply breathtaking? Of course we do, and the thieves even more so. Because now they even have the guarantee that Mr. X is many kilometers away from his home and Mrs. Y is exploring the sights of the French capital.
Post your favorite photos after you're safely home. You choose the best pictures and tell them about the exciting holiday trip.
Check regularly that your messages are actually only going to friends. Only tell friends/colleagues where you are going.
Install firewalls/virus protection and regularly change your passwords on PCs, laptops, etc. - this is not just a holiday tip, but a year-round task!
HOLIDAY
TIME REQUIRES SECURITY
HOW TO SECURE YOUR HOME ON HOLIDAY - WHICH SAFE IS APPROPRIATE?
Which lock should I choose?
- Models with an electronic lock have proven to be the best last bastion against burglars.
- Uninvited guests often look for the key in safes with a key lock.
Which safe should I choose?
The selection is huge - a good safe should not only protect against burglars and unauthorized access to your valuables, it is also important to have tested fire protection.
Insurance policies, contracts, etc. should definitely be kept in tested and fireproof safes.
THE HOLIDAY CHECKLIST
FOR A SAFE HOLIDAY
Our holiday checklist offers assistance for your safe holiday.By following our simple advice, you can ensure you don't end up with any nasty surprises after your vacation.
- Make your home look lived in
- Be sure to empty the mailbox
- Be sure to lock windows and doors
- Control lighting with a timer
- Do not stick any notices on the mailbox
- Arm the alarm system
- Valuable items must be locked in the safe
