Moving Home & Holidays
To reduce the risk of a burglary while you are on holiday make sure
you:
- Cancel the milk and papers
- Hide valuable items
- Property mark your valuables
- Lock your garage/tools
- Make arrangements for your post
- Lock all doors and windows
- Cut the lawns
- Set timer switches on lights and/or radio
- Get a friend or neighbour to collect your post, draw your curtains and make your home look lived in.
- Avoid displaying your name and address on your luggage. Put your address inside the case to help identification if the luggage is lost.
- Hide financial documents and keys
- Don't mention on your answering machine that you will be away from home for a few days
Moving home
Check that estate agents, removers and other trades-people are members
of a professional body or association.
If you have put your home up for sale ask your neighbours to keep an eye
on your home while you are out. Let them know your movements and when
you expect possible buyers to call, but take care who you tell.
Advice from estate agents. If you are out and a 'for Sale board'
has been recommended, ask your estate agent to be careful about the details
they give out about you, your work and the security arrangements and layout
of your home.
Insurance cover
Make sure that your home contents insurance cover will transfer when you
move and remember to update your motor registration and insurance details
too.
Entry to your home
Only allow someone to view your home if they have made an appointment
with the estate agents. If strangers appear without an appointment and
ask to view your home, do NOT let them in. Suggest they contact the estate
agent first.
Dealing with rubbish
When you prepare to move home you may decide to throw away more things
that usual. Be careful about leaving large piles of rubbish or packed
bins outside your home for too long.
Packing your belongings
Take care if you collect lots of boxes from local shops - a burglar may
see this as a sign that you are moving soon. Think about using large plastic
bags for lighter items. Think about putting small valuable items, like
jewellery, in the bank.
Moving day
Keep your possessions secure. Try to get friends and neighbours to help
keep an eye on your home or possessions or to help out on the day of the
move.
Keep all doors and windows locked - not forgetting your garage, shed or
patio doors - or watched when they are not in use.
Take special care with valuable items such as televisions or DVD players.
The removal van
Make sure that your removers can secure their vehicle and stop it from
being stolen. Ask the removers to take care that the door used for loading
and unloading the vehicle should not be left unguarded or unlocked when
not in use.
After the move
Neighbourhood Watch. Most new neighbours are friendly, welcoming and
helpful. Get to know them as soon as possible and think about joining
your local neighbourhood watch scheme. Your local crime prevention officer
can provide advice on how to do this.
New possessions
Take care when leaving empty boxes outside your home. They can give away
details of new and valuable equipment that might be worth stealing.
Marking possessions
If your possessions are marked with a postcode, make sure you change it
to the new postcode. Keep your own list of these items.
Making it secure
You may want to think about changing the door locks or fitting key-operated
locks to the windows of your new home. Discuss this with your insurance
company, housing officer, or crime prevention officer. If you are renting
the home, talk to your landlord.