Five safety measures to keep your home safe and ‘deter burglars’ when on holiday

The holiday season is underway and whether you’re going away for a short staycation or jetting off to a different country, keeping your home secure is essential for peace of mind and being

able to relax.  Experts at Express Bi-Folding Doors have explained how you can keep your home secure and safe from burglars and thieves when on holiday.  1. MAKE SURE YOUR DOOR IS FULLY

SECURE They said: “This may be an obvious one, however, there are many other ways to ensure your doors are secure than just keeping them locked. “If you’re planning on having your doors

replaced in the future, especially your external doors, make sure that your hinges are on the inside. This is because having your hinges exposed makes it much easier for burglars to

physically remove your door. You could also consider installing a door with a multi-locking system. “However, if you can’t replace your door – it’s important to check your current locks for

their security rating to ensure it matches the recommended level.” 2. MAKE SURE YOUR WINDOWS AND DOORS ARE MORE PRIVATE They added: “Simply increasing the privacy of your home is also a

great way to deter burglars – a great long-term way of increasing your privacy is by planting trees around your perimeter. Using evergreen trees doesn’t only give you protection year-round

but also provides a lovely view out of your windows. “You could also consider using privacy window film – which is widely available and prevents anyone from looking in. The film is easy to

put on and take off your windows – so if you didn’t want to have it on all the time, you could always leave it on whilst you’re on holiday and take it off when you return home.” Consider

buying voile curtains or slatted blinds that you can leave partially shut to make looking into windows harder.  3. DON’T HIDE A SPARE KEY OUTSIDE The experts continued: “There’s nothing

worse than coming home after a long day at work to come to realise that you’re locked out, and whilst you think this could be avoided by hiding a spare key under a rock, the rug or a nearby

plant pot, know that it’s very likely a thief would find it. “If you are worried about being locked out, or want to just make it easier if you have someone to look after your home whilst

you’re away, consider installing a key-safe somewhere out of sight of your front door. The safe should be security approved and accessible with a code making it a great place to put a spare

key.” 4. MAKE YOUR HOME VISIBLE They explained: “Why this might almost feel like something you shouldn’t be doing, making sure that your front garden is open and visible can eliminate hiding

spots and access points for thieves. You can do this by lining the garden with thorny shrubs which can also put them off trying to break in or hide. “Another element to consider is

potentially having a gravel drive or pathway, which could act as a noise deterrent.”  Having external lights that are turned on by sensors can also deter burglars, as well as solar lights in

the front garden.  5. CANCEL DELIVERIES  The experts said: “Regular deliveries, such as milk, can build up outside your door and make it obvious that there is nobody home.”  Get a neighbour

to take the deliveries inside for you, or rearrange them until you get back.