STAY SAFE | SOS FOR GARDENERS TO HELP THE VULNERABLE
Burglary prevention advice to avoid summer holiday heartache WHETHER you’ve booked a week or two in the sun or have planned a short family break – don’t forget to add home security and property protection to your checklist. We can all greatly reduce the risk of burglary by taking a few simple security measures to help make our home less attractive to thieves.
and check for any specific requirements relating to security
• Get a reputable locksmith to secure gates and sheds.
• Think about investing in ‘Smart’ technology to automate lights, curtains etc., remotely
• Install some sensory / outdoor lighting.
Not only will it give you peace of mind, but it will also mean your happy While you're away: holiday won’t turn into a home-coming • Consider getting a relative, heartache. friend or neighbour to park on Before you go on holiday: your drive if you have one, open • Cancel milk and newspaper deliveries and close the curtains, collect the post from the mat and water the • Set up automatic timer switches to garden turn your lights on when it gets dark • Be mindful of what you write or • Register for the Royal Mail’s photos you share on social media ‘keepsake’ service which could identify you as being • Cut front and back lawns and trim away on holiday back plants Prevention is always better than • Don’t discuss holiday plans on social cure, and now is a great time to media or in places where strangers may act on installing or upgrading any overhear CCTV security / lighting or alarm • Ask a trusted neighbour to watch systems – or even changing the over your home whilst you’re away locks. • Ensure all windows and doors, gates, And while your property is safe garages and sheds are locked and secured, don’t overlook your garden. • Keep items that could be used to break into your property such as Thieves will resort to stealing just ladders, tools and wheelie bins stored about anything from the garden, safely away from lawn mowers and expensive tools to fish from the pond and • Store valuable documents or items in a safe. Alternatively consider leaving even newly laid turf! them with a family member, friend or Tips: a bank • Take a walk around your garden • Make sure valuable items such as and check things that may be laptops, games consoles etc., are not appealing to a thief - an unlocked on view from the outside back gate or shed (particularly if the shed contains expensive • Make sure you have up-to-date building and contents insurance garden tools / machinery or bikes).
• Alarm the garage to provide additional security or think about installing garage roller shutter doors. • If your fencing is flimsy, broken panels could provide easy access to intruders, so consider investing in some new and improved fencing or panels. • If you are going away, even for the weekend – lock any back or side gates or other entrances to the garden to limit access. • Secure expensive plants with wire pegs dug into the ground around the root ball. • Use a security pen to mark valuable items, like garden furniture, ornaments or trampolines, with your postcode. • Join a local Neighbourhood Watch Group – where you and your neighbours can look out for each other. Find your nearest group www.ourwatch.org.uk
Visit www.safelocaltrades. com for all the details of our reliable and reputable security professionals, including alarm fitters and locksmiths.
By Eileen Le Voi
Safe Local Trades has a number of tried and tested reliable tradesmen who can carry out a range of property improvements that can save you money, as well as those who specialise in energy saving solutions for your home or business. www.safelocaltrades.com 4
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