If you’re heading away over the holidays follow the advice below to keep your property safe while you are not at home.

Security

Set your alarm if you have one. Make sure all windows are shut and doors are locked.

Thieves may get into a house even with deadbolt locks, but they will find it harder to leave carrying your large valuable items if they can’t open doors easily.

If you are leaving any vehicles, motorbikes or ebikes behind, lock those up too. Keep your vehicles out of sight if possible.

Don’t leave your spare house key in an obvious place. Keep any spare vehicle and house keys separated and hidden inside your house.

Keep valuables out of sight – don’t leave a laptop or jewellery box visible through a window.

Secure any tools or implements around your house that may assist someone breaking in. Likewise, keep shrubs near the house trimmed so would-be-thieves can’t hide among them.

Don’t advertise your absence on social media. Be circumspect in who you tell that you are going away.

Make your house look occupied

If you can, enlist the help of a neighbour or friend to make your house seem occupied. 

Have them open and close the curtains periodically. Ask them to put out and retrieve your wheelie bins. Ask them to mow the lawn if it needs it. Have your mail collected. 

If no one can do these things for you, do your best to leave the impression that someone is at home before you leave. 

Think about leaving washing on the line and shoes by the door. Consider having an inside light on a timer. Don’t leave a rubbish bin out. Put a stop on your mail. Pay someone to mow the lawn. Leave your curtains open and blinds up. 

For an extended holiday, think about using a house sitter so your house will be occupied. 

Have someone mow your lawns while you are away

Other precautions

It’s not just crime you need to think about: Power cuts, power surges, flooding, fire and wind can all damage your home in your absence.

Turn off appliances – except for your fridge and freezer – at the wall to minimise fire risk. 

Leave your fridge and freezer as empty as you can while you are away so if there is a power cut you lose as little food as possible.

Think about turning off your water to avoid burst or leaking pipes, something local plumber Foleys recommend. If you need to leave it on so a friend can water your garden, ask them to check inside the house for water issues periodically. 

You can also save yourself a few dollars by turning off your hot water heating while you are away – just remember to turn it back on again before you jump in the shower after your camping holiday. 

“If you have gas hot water, leave the power on but turn the gas isolation valve off. It’s probably yellow but call us if you have questions,” Foleys say.

Make sure you leave your contact details with a neighbour, or a friend who can do regular checks, so someone can be in touch quickly in an emergency.

Secure all your windows when you leave for the holidays

Check your insurance cover

Sometimes bad things happen. If you are unlucky enough to be burgled, or if mother nature wreaks havoc on your house, good insurance cover will help ease your financial pain.

Check your house and contents policies are up-to-date and whether you are required to inform your insurer that the house is empty or not. 

If you are living rurally, you may be interested in these rural specific tips. The police also provide advice on how to keep safe and relevant phone numbers if something does happen.