'Simple and affordable ways’ to protect your home from theft and burglary while on holiday
Sixty-seven percent of burglars enter homes via a door which is why it's important to make sure front doors offer maximum protection.
UK heatwave: Security expert warns of threat of burglary
During the summer months, many homeowners go on holiday either abroad or in the UK to make the most of the summer sun.
In fact, the majority (63 percent) of Britons have booked a summer holiday this year, according to Travelodge UK.
While everyone needs a chance to relax and unwind, this can leave Britons’ properties and their valuable possessions vulnerable.
With this in mind, Sumier Foster-Shah, product and customer support manager at ERA has shared exclusively with Express.co.uk “simple and affordable ways” to protect homes from break-ins while on holiday.
Sumier said there are many ways to ensure homes are protected during the summer months while on holiday without spending a fortune such as visual deterrents and gadgets.
However, surprisingly, the security expert said one of the “simplest” ways to improve a home’s security is to improve the front door.
He said: “A simple and affordable way to improve the security of your front door is to update your existing locks with a high security cylinder.
“For optimum protection, choose a 3* cylinder that has Sold Secure Diamond status and check that it has been accredited by Secured by Design’s Police Preferred Specification scheme.
“You can use this lock with a standard handle to give ultimate resistance to picking, drilling, bumping, snapping, and extraction.”
Sumier said CCTV is “one of the biggest deterrents for burglars”, however, this can be quite a significant investment.
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Instead, homeowners could opt for a cost-effective video doorbell which allows homeowners to record footage from their front doors.
This will likely put off potential intruders in the same way that a large camera or CCTV system does.
The security expert also said lighting is important when it comes to deterring burglars. Having timed lighting can make it look like a property is occupied when it’s not.
Sumier said: “It’s also important that your property doesn’t look unoccupied whilst you’re away.
“One of the easiest ways to do this is by lighting the inside of your home.
“By using timers or smart plugs, you can set a small lamp to come on as the evening sets in, helping to light up the home but prevent wasted energy by leaving the lights on all day.”
“For added peace of mind, you could also ask a trusted neighbour or nearby friend to keep an eye on your home whilst you’re away.”