Security Tips For The Festive Season

PRESS RELEASE: Security Tips For The Festive Season

Friday 16 December 2005

The New Zealand Security Officers Association has compiled a list of security tips for those intending to go on holiday over the Christmas and New Year period.

-Ensure you have strong fitted locks on doors.

-If you have sliding glass patio doors, ensure you have either a secondary blocking device such as a piece of wood in the lower door track or install anti-lift devices such as door pins or upper track screws to prevent the door being slid open.

-Display highly visible alarm monitoring or response company stickers on doors and/or windows where practical or ‘Beware of Dog’ signs on outside of property.

-If possible, secure all accessible windows with secondary blocking devices and/or install anti-lift devices to prevent window from being lifted out.

-Bring in any external keys you may have hidden on your property. Only leave house and property keys with friends/relatives you can trust.

-If you know and trust adjacent neighbours, get them to pick up newspapers, and flyers from your letterbox or get them to do things like occasionally park their car in your driveway or hang their laundry on your clothesline. If you aren’t on good terms with neighbours, talk to a security company in your locality about having your mail and flyers emptied from your mailbox for a small fee.

-Arrange to have your lawn cut regularly while you are on holiday by a reputable lawn mowing or gardening service.

-Cancel newspaper deliveries for the period you intend to go on holiday.

-Use power socket timers to switch appliances (e.g. radio, tv) and lights on and off to give the appearance that your house is occupied. Consider the services of a house sitter.

-Before going on holiday, ensure your alarm system is in good functioning order. Ensure back-up batteries are replaced. Make sure your alarm response call list is up to date and that all keys and alarm codes held by alarm monitoring and response are current and functional. Ensure your alarm response company has clear instructions regarding action to be taken in the event of a break-in, such as which glaziers or locksmiths to contact for emergency repairs.

-Record the serial numbers of all valuables on a list. Store copies of this in a safe deposit box or with a friend/relative you trust.

-Discuss any other security concerns you have with licensed and certified security operators who will be only too happy to offer professional advice.

ENDS

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