Christmas is an enjoyable time of year and it’s usually a chance to go away somewhere special, or relax at home with family and friends. It can also unfortunately be a time when thieves target Queensland homes in search of expensive electronics and other items. To protect your home and family, it is a good idea to consider your home security and implement preventative measures to reduce the chances of becoming a victim of theft this festive season.

Here are a few security measures you might want to consider before the holiday season hits in earnest this year:

• Check your windows and doors are secure. If you have exterior Christmas lights make sure you aren’t feeding the power cables through partially open windows, as this can be a security risk. Now might be a good time to install deadbolts on windows and doors as well.
• Don’t advertise your absence. If you are planning to go away for the holidays make sure you leave lights on a timer, put a hold on deliveries and ask a trusted neighbour to keep an eye on your place. If possible, see if you can get a house sitter or someone to live in the house if you’re going to be away for a few weeks, so it’s clear that the home is occupied.
• If you receive electronic goods or other expensive Christmas gifts, make sure you keep them out of view of windows and don’t put the boxes or packaging out on the street during rubbish collection. Doing so can act as an advertisement to potential thieves. Find out what day the recycling is being collected, and put your boxes out the night before, or even that morning.
• A security alarm can be a great deterrent for potential thieves. If you don’t have one already, you might want to consider installing one and placing visible signs and stickers around your property.
• Consider installing motion sensitive lighting around your home. Cut back on dark areas around the exterior of your property and make sure it is well lit and visible from the street.
• Don’t post holiday snaps or pictures of your presents on social media sites. Thieves can use social media sites such as Facebook to target potential victims. Post your holiday pictures after you return, not while you are away!
• It’s always good to have in addition to a monitored alarm system (or other internal security measures) an after hours patrol service physically looking after your home. As with the season, things get a little bit crazy & people are more relaxed when it comes to looking after their property. During this time of year, opportunistic crime usually increases because of these attitudes & the emotional effect this season usually has on people who can’t provide for their families, thus becoming more appealing targets.

Keep your home and family safe and secure this Christmas by taking a few precautionary security measures, whether you live on the Gold Coast, on the Sunshine Coast, or in Brisbane or Ipswich. With a bit of planning and common sense, you can help avoid a potential disaster and enjoy the festive season to the fullest.