Keep your home safe while you’re away

Home invasions invariably contribute to the rise in crime in the month of December, a wave referred to as “Christmas shopping” by security professionals. PHOTO | FILE

What you need to know:

  • One of the precautionary measures that home owners should take to lower the vulnerability of their homes to burglar attacks is to ensure that the home looks inhabited, with, for example, a neighbour coming in every morning to draw back the curtains and open some windows, and closing them and leaving the lights on overnight.
  • Then there is the issue of what to do with spare keys. Some people leave spare keys nearby, say under a flower pot. However, this is not advisable as somebody snooping around might find them.  It is better  to leave spare keys with a trusted relative or neighbour.

The festive season is here and many people will travel to see relatives and friends in other parts of the country, or even attend social functions, leaving their homes for extended periods.

In fact, according to a study by Consumer Insight Africa, nearly 42 per cent of urban-based Kenyans travel to their rural homes for Christmas. Their  homes thus become attractive targets for burglars.

This, coupled with the lowered vigilance during the holiday period, contributes to December accounting for 79 per cent of annual crimes in Nairobi, according to recent police reports, says Warrior Security’s Chief Executive Officer, Mr Tony Sugden.

Indeed, home invasions invariably contribute to the rise in crime in the month of December, a wave referred to as “Christmas shopping” by security professionals, Mr Sugden says.

LOWER VULNERABILITY

The exposure of empty homes to crime increases by at least 10 per cent, according to the US’ Federal Bureau of Investigation. However, the risk factor is highly dependent on the measures you take to secure your home.

That is why it is important to look at the various ways to keep your home secure during the festive season, whether you plan to be away for a just few days, or for a longer period, he says.              

Perhaps the first, and most obvious thing to note, is that it is important to give the impression that that the house is occupied throughout the entire period you are not around, Mr Sugden says.

“One of the precautionary measures that home owners should take to lower the vulnerability of their homes to burglar attacks is to ensure that the home looks inhabited, with, for example, a neighbour coming in every morning to draw back the curtains and open some windows, and closing them and leaving the lights on overnight, or to even having someone trustworthy staying over to house-sit while the owners are away,” he says.

And as part of keeping your home looking inhabited, make sure to cancel deliveries to your address during the period you are away. A pile of items on your doorstep or at the gate is a sure tip to burglars that you will be away for a considerable amount of time. However, should you leave and forget to have the deliveries cancelled, arrange for a trusted neighbour to pick them up for you every day, Sugden says.

Poorly secured homes also increase chances of burglary, and as a result, 40 per cent of break-ins occur without the need for the intruder to use force, according to the US Bureau of Statistics.

While it might seem unimportant to lock the bathroom and kitchen windows and doors to extended structures such as the servant’s quarters, locking up properly reduces the ease with which intruders can access your property, deterring opportunistic burglars who are not keen on trying too hard.

In addition, consider investing in quality padlocks and sophisticated door locks that will make it difficult, and more importantly, noisy, for burglars to break into your home, Mr Sugden advises.

Another crucial measure to take is to invest in an alarm system.

Findings show that these gadgets  lower the chances of burglary by 66.2 per cent when used alongside any two or three precautionary measures, according to the Alarm Industry Research and Educational Foundation.

SPARE KEYS

Though considered complementary to other security features such as locks, window grilles and burglar proof doors, they are effective as they alert neighbours to the danger posed by intruders, he says.

Security firms offer a variety of alarm-based solutions which you can take advantage of while you are on your travels during the holiday season, he adds.

Also, when you are going away for extended periods, do not announce it on social media because, as Mr Sugden says, as our social lives take on a digital form, so does crime.

Then there is the issue of what to do with spare keys. Some people leave spare keys nearby, say under a flower pot. However, this is not advisable as somebody snooping around might find them.  It is better  to leave spare keys with a trusted relative or neighbour.

“As no home is completely immune to burglary despite the measures you may take to keep your home safe, it is prudent to take up a home insurance policy so as to avoid the financial burden that comes with replacing stolen or damaged property arising from break-ins.

In addition, contact a security provider to make sure that your home is well secured as this will significantly lower your home insurance premiums and ensure that you have some peace of mind this festive season,” advises Mr Sugden.