Safety

Increase the safety of your home for you and your family

Make your home secure for your kids

Alice Piper

Posted August 27, 2021

With break-ins on the rise, it’s more important than ever to protect yourself. Here’s how. 

Are you someone who locks your front door when you leave the house? What about locking your car when it’s in the driveway? Or the windows? 

If the answer is no, you might want to rethink your approach because, in the last 12 months, 4.3 per cent of Australian households have been broken into, with more than 70 per cent having goods stolen, and a scary 11 per cent coming face to face with the burglar!

While most items stolen included things like mobile phones, tablets, computers, cash, power tools, jewellery and passports – some thieves even go as far as to steal their victim’s identity.   

And yes, most of those items can be replaced, but when family heirlooms are stolen, there is no replacing those. And if they’re not insured, all that’s left is a heavy heart and regret for not having adequate home security. 

So instead of making yourself a target for thieves, here are a few things you can do to make your home as secure as it can be.

Don’t keep valuable items in plain sight

Keeping items like jewellery, car keys, wallets, or a mobile phone on windowsills where they can be seen from the outside is like inviting a burglar in through your front door and showing them where your valuables are.

A good alternative is keeping jewellery in non-obvious draws and having a bowl on the kitchen bench for frequently used items like keys and phones.

Maintain your garden

It might seem bizarre but allowing your garden to become unruly is a sign you’re either not home or out a lot (or perhaps you just don’t like gardening!). 

It also allows burglars to assess the best hiding places around the home in case their heist is interrupted. So, get out and give your garden or front porch a tidy up and consider installing sensor lights in areas like the front and back entrance, as well as smaller windows that are out of your view.   

Keep security cameras in check

Did you get a security camera installed when you moved in or built your home? How is the camera doing now?

So often, people get cameras installed as a security measure (a great one at that), but years go by, and they never bother maintaining them. Security camera maintenance is paramount to a secure home, so make sure you’re getting them regularly serviced and tested by a security camera technician.  

Don't leave doors, windows, and garages unlocked

It seems obvious, but how often do you dash out of the house and just 'forget' to lock up?

 This is prime time for opportunistic thieves who may have been watching your property and waiting for you to leave. Try making things as difficult as possible, and not only lock up, but try having a door with deadlocks or even another security screen on top of that. And while you're at it, lock the windows too!

Security alarms are a great home protection

Security alarms are a great way to keep your home safe. Image: Getty

Secure valuable documents in a locked cabinet

We mentioned before how some burglars go as far as stealing their victim’s identity – well, this is because people leave things like bank statements, passwords, tax returns, passports and other sensitive information lying around on the office desk, easily accessible to anyone.   

When in the wrong hands, this information can be easily used to access your money and your identity. 

Keep this type of information in a locked draw or cabinet with the keys attached to your car keys because you generally have these on your at all times (or at least know where they are), meaning if you’re out of the house, the thief likely won’t waste time trying to open it.  

Don’t hide your house keys under the doormat

It might seem like an easy to remember location, but keep in mind that it’s also an easy-to-guess place. 

Hiding keys under the doormat is the oldest trick in the book, so be a little more creative with your hiding spot, or better yet, give everyone in your household a key who needs one and have them attach it to their own personal key chain – that way you won’t need to hide one at all.

Educate your household

If your home is to be safe (as well as the people in it), everyone needs to be on the same page when it comes to home security. 

We’re not talking about scaring your kids into locking the doors, but perhaps get them to help you when you leave the house by showing them what to do. It will help develop good habits as they grow up, and you’ll feel confident that if you’re ever away and they’re looking after things.  

Don’t post holidays or weekends away all-over social media

In a Covid-19 world where holidays and time away are few and far between, it can be very tempting to put a happy snap on Facebook or Instagram, but it’s the easiest way for people to know you’re away, as well as how long you’ll be away for.

Try to refrain from posting about your holiday until you’re back in your home and reflect on how much fun you ‘had’, not how much fun you’re ‘having’.

Stop yourself from becoming one of the statistics of burgled homes in Victoria by implementing these tips and enjoy peace of mind when it comes to your family’s safety. 

 

Make your home as safe as it can be with RACV Home Security.
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