With the holiday season nearly upon us, AMP General Insurance cautions people to follow a holiday security checklist:
Upgrade your security before you leave home. This should include fitting good quality, double cylinder dead latches or
five lever mortise deadlocks and window locks to accessible ground floor windows. Ideally this should also include
installation of an intruder alarm.
Cancel deliveries such as newspapers and milk.
Cancel the mail or, better still, arrange for a neighbour to collect your mail. This ensures that a friendly pair of
eyes views your property each day.
Turn the volume on the telephone ringer down or disconnect from jack point.
Leave curtains and blinds open.
Leave a table lamp operated by a timer to turn on each evening.
Switch off and disconnect all electrical appliances - including range - which will not be used during your absence.
Lock indoors tools, ladders, outdoor furniture and anything else which intruders may use to gain access to your home.
Lock all doors, close all windows and set the alarm. Remove ALL spare keys from the property. Do not leave them
`hidden' outside.
AMP also suggests neighbours should work together to help maintain the illusion that homes are occupied.
Let your neighbours know when you are going away and when you intend to return.
Give them a contact phone number if possible.
Provide neighbours with a key and ask them to re-arrange the curtains, hang washing on your clothes line and park one
of their cars on your driveway.
Ask them to remove junk mail or fit a removable `No Circulars' sign to the letterbox for the duration of your absence.
Arrange for someone to cut your lawns if you intend being away for more than two weeks.
And if it is your turn to be at home during the holiday season: Take note of any suspicious looking strangers hanging
about - note their vehicle registration number, make and colour of the vehicle.
Observe the activities of delivery vehicles who may be taking more out than they are putting in. Again take note of
vehicle details and the people involved in the `delivery'.
If you have concerns do not hesitate - ring the Police. That is what they are there for.
Finally, AMP also has some security tips for those parking their cars in remote spots over the holidays:
Lock the car and arm the alarm if one is fitted.
Do not leave valuables - cameras, handbags or anything else for that matter - visible inside the saloon of the car.
Lock them in the boot and disconnect the remote boot opener inside the saloon. (There is usually a switch inside the
boot which is attached to the boot locking device.)
Obtain a good quality steering wheel lock - and use it!
ENDS...