How to Protect Your Property Over the Christmas Period

The Christmas season is a time for joy, celebration, and often, travel. 

Whether you're visiting family or taking a well-deserved festive break, it's important to ensure your home remains safe and secure while you're away. 

Opportunistic burglars are particularly active during the holiday season, taking advantage of empty homes and visible gifts.

Here are some practical tips to help you protect your property and enjoy a worry-free Christmas holiday.

1. Make Your Home Look Occupied

One of the simplest ways to deter burglars is to make it appear as though someone is home:

Use timers for lights: Set up timers to turn on lights, TVs, or radios at random intervals to give the illusion of activity.

Keep curtains and blinds normal: Don’t leave curtains closed during the day; it’s a clear sign no one is home.

Ask a neighbour for help: If possible, ask a trusted neighbour to park in your driveway, collect your post, and take out your bins on collection day.

2. Secure Your Doors and Windows

Before leaving, double-check all entry points to your home:

Install sturdy locks: Ensure all doors and windows have high-quality locks, preferably ones that meet British Standards (BS3621).

Add a security bar: Sliding doors and windows can be reinforced with a security bar or rod to prevent forced entry.

Use smart locks: Modern smart locks allow you to lock and monitor your doors remotely.

3. Be Smart with Social Media

While it’s tempting to share your holiday plans and festive snaps, doing so can signal to burglars that your home is empty.

Avoid posting travel details: Wait until you’re back home to share your holiday adventures.

Check privacy settings: Ensure your social media profiles are private, and only share updates with trusted friends and family.

4. Invest in Home Security Systems

Technology can play a vital role in safeguarding your home:

Install CCTV cameras: Visible cameras act as a deterrent, and modern systems allow you to monitor your property in real time.

Use motion-activated lights: These can startle potential intruders and draw attention to suspicious activity.

Consider a monitored alarm system: These alert a security company or the police if triggered.

5. Protect Your Valuables

Make it difficult for burglars to access your prized possessions:

Store gifts out of sight: Don’t leave wrapped presents visible through windows.

Use a safe: Keep important documents, jewellery, and cash in a secure, fireproof safe.

Mark your belongings: Use a UV pen or a property marking system to label valuables, making them harder to sell and easier to recover.

6. Plan for Emergencies

Prepare for unexpected issues while you're away:

Shut off water and gas: Prevent potential leaks by turning off the water supply and gas if not needed.

Unplug non-essential appliances: Reduce the risk of electrical fires by unplugging items like Christmas lights, TVs, and chargers.

Leave a spare key with someone trustworthy: In case of emergencies, a neighbour or friend can access your home.

7. Don’t Forget Your Pets

If you have pets, ensure they are cared for during your absence:

Hire a pet sitter or use a boarding service: Keep pets safe and secure with trusted care.

Secure pet doors: Lock pet flaps or use electronic ones to prevent intruders from gaining entry.

Final Thoughts

A little preparation goes a long way in ensuring your home stays safe over the Christmas period. By taking these precautions, you can reduce the risk of burglary and other issues, allowing you to relax and enjoy the festive season with peace of mind.

Happy Christmas! Stay safe and secure!

How to Keep Your Home and Property Safe and Secure Over Christmas

The festive season is a time for celebration, family gatherings, and creating cherished memories. 

However, the hustle and bustle of Christmas can sometimes leave your home vulnerable to theft, accidents, or other security risks.

To ensure your holidays are filled with joy and peace of mind, follow these practical tips to keep your home and property safe this Christmas.

1. Secure Your Home Before Travelling

If you're heading away for the holidays, take steps to make your home look occupied:

Use timers for lights. Set indoor and outdoor lights to turn on and off automatically in the evening.

Pause deliveries. Post piling up can signal that no one is home. Arrange for a neighbour to collect it or use a hold service.

Lock up thoroughly. Double-check all windows and doors, including those in garages, sheds, or outbuildings.

Don’t advertise your absence. Avoid posting holiday plans or travel photos on social media until you return.

2. Enhance Your Home Security

Investing in a few key security measures can deter opportunistic thieves:

Install a visible alarm system. A home alarm can scare off intruders and alert you or your neighbours to a break-in attempt.

Upgrade locks and doors. Ensure all entry points are fitted with high-quality locks.

Consider a video doorbell. These allow you to monitor visitors and receive alerts, even when you're away.

Motion-detecting lights. Bright outdoor lighting can deter criminals from approaching your property at night.

3. Protect Valuables Inside

Your Christmas gifts and other valuables can be tempting for burglars. Take steps to protect them:

Keep presents out of sight. Avoid placing gifts in plain view of windows.

Mark your valuables. Use a UV pen to write your postcode on high-value items.

Lock up expensive items. Secure jewellery, electronics, and other valuable items in a safe.

Be mindful of packaging. Discreetly dispose of boxes from high-value purchases, like TVs or gaming consoles, to avoid advertising your new items.

4. Light Up Outdoor Spaces

Outdoor decorations are a wonderful way to spread Christmas cheer, but they can also attract unwanted attention:

Secure decorations. Use clips or ties to prevent them from being easily removed.

Invest in smart plugs. Outdoor lights can be set on timers or remotely controlled to avoid leaving them on unnecessarily.

Protect power sources. Keep outdoor extension cords and outlets in secure, weatherproof covers to prevent tampering or damage.

5. Fire Safety Precautions

Christmas also comes with increased fire risks due to decorations, candles, and cooking:

Inspect Christmas lights. Replace any damaged strings of lights and ensure they meet safety standards.

Be cautious with candles. Keep candles away from flammable decorations and never leave them unattended.

Check smoke alarms. Ensure all alarms are functional and batteries are fresh.

Water your tree. If you have a real Christmas tree, keep it hydrated to reduce the risk of fire.

6. Stay Vigilant During the Holidays

Be wary of delivery scams. Criminals often take advantage of increased parcel deliveries to commit fraud. Verify emails and texts before clicking on links.

Keep an eye on your neighbourhood. Watch for unusual activity and report anything suspicious.

Use a trusted neighbour. Ask someone you trust to check on your home if you're away for extended periods.

7. Protect Your Car

Vehicles can also be a target for theft over Christmas:

Hide valuables. Keep bags, gifts, and other items out of sight.

Park in well-lit areas. Choose safe locations and avoid leaving your car in dark, secluded spots.

Lock it up. Always double-check that doors, windows, and the boot are locked.

Enjoy a Safe and Happy Christmas

By taking these precautions, you can reduce the risk of disruptions during the holidays and focus on what truly matters—spending time with loved ones. Wishing you a safe, secure, and joyful Christmas!

This Essex-based company will be able to offer you advice http://www.mysecuregarden.co.uk

What are your top tips for home safety during the holidays? Let us know in the comments!

Essex family’s own security concerns inspired a new website to help others reduce risk

My Secure Garden features a wide range of high-quality security products, with many suitable for quick and simple DIY installation. And ideal for securing items at Christmas.

A new garden security website has recently been launched by an Essex family, who wanted to take steps to protect their own property but found it difficult to source the right products for their needs.

Official crime figures for England and Wales reveal that over 9 out of 10 crimes against households involve thefts from outside the house. 

A staggering 517,000 thefts from gardens are estimated to have taken place over the last 12-month reporting period. Items commonly stolen include bicycles, children’s toys, delivery packages, tools and garden furniture and equipment. Opportunistic thieves are even known to remove plant pots, specimen plants and hanging baskets.

“The statistics we read were alarming,” explains Chris Gatland, “We live in a house on a quiet street but being on a corner plot we were well aware our own garden could be vulnerable to intruders-especially during the daytime when we are often out, and we wanted to reduce the risk of losing some of the valuable items we’ve collected over the years.”

“A few years ago, we stumbled upon an excellent ‘Secured Garden’ exhibition at our local RHS Garden, Hyde Hall,” adds Gatland. 

“There was lots of helpful garden, garage and outbuilding security advice available from Essex Police, but we found it surprisingly difficult to source some of the products we had seen on display. Garden centres, DIY stores and the large trade tool and hardware retailers all offer a limited range of security products, but it was challenging to find everything we needed for securing our garden – and certainly not in one place.”

www.mysecuregarden.co.uk has been launched by the Gatland family as a new one-stop online shop which offers a comprehensive range of products, devices and solutions to help improve outdoor security and protect much-loved possessions which are often stored outside the home.

“When we first started researching garden and outbuilding security, we were complete amateurs,” confesses Gatland.

“But it became something of a passion project when we calculated the monetary value of the items we had stored outside, as well as in our garden shed and garage. When we also discovered just how many people are impacted by thefts from outside the house, we realised that the research we had done could be of real benefit to others.

"High-value items stolen from gardens, sheds, garages and outbuildings are often not covered by standard insurance policies, so it’s worth checking your policy to make sure you’re clear on what’s covered and putting some simple security measures in place.”

My Secure Garden features a wide range of high-quality security products, with many suitable for quick and simple DIY installation. As an independent, family-run business, the Gatlands are keen to offer great customer service and competitive prices. 

All the products have been sourced from specialist security brands and manufacturers and selected for their garden security application and value. Many have also achieved awards for their design, and independent accreditations for their quality and standards.

The launch of the website has been neatly timed to coincide with the winter months, as the dark evenings generally prompt more household crimes. “The winter months unfortunately provide more opportunity for crime,” confirms Gatland “which means it’s sensible to secure outdoor buildings and spaces. So, if you’re looking for a practical Christmas gift for a family member who’s tricky to buy for, an outdoor security product might be appreciated!”

More information is available from www.mysecuregarden.co.uk and there’s some helpful information about protecting your garden and outbuildings on the Police website.