Rotherham locksmith tips for Xmas

My annual Christmas home security blog!

In the words of the great Bing Crosby, It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas. He’d certainly be convinced of that this recent week with the frosted ground and smatterings of snow we’ve been having.  Another way he’d be able to tell that the day is getting near is because it’s time for my annual Christmas home security blog. Much awaited by people up and down the land, it’s become as much a festive tradition as the Royal Institution Christmas Lectures, the Mrs Browns Boys special, and the Queen’s Speech. Although the latter of these will have to undergo a bit of a change this year, unless multiple special effects are used.

Protect your property

I do fear I’m getting a bit of a reputation as a Grinch, as whilst others are looking forward to the holiday season and celebrating the best they can, albeit in the face of the current financial climate, I’m here chuntering away about precautions you need to take to counteract the added risks at this time of year. However, it is important stuff as nothing quite ruins a Christmas like a burglary in the lead up to the big day. Apart from a family member’s insistence on watching the aforementioned Mrs Browns Boys on Christmas Day.

We’re living in turbulent times, and as I’ve talked about before on these pages, the economic climate has led to an increase in burglaries – they are up again this year on 2021. And we also know that Christmas time is a lucrative one for house-breakers, with homes often filled with presents in preparation for gift-giving and family visits. Which makes it all the more important to protect our property at this time of year.

So, a few festive-related tips to help us do this. Let’s start with the issue of Christmas cards. The amount we get through the post may be a little lower this year due to the industrial action, but most of us will still get a few, even if just from neighbours and friends nearby.  A couple of things to be aware of though. If they have come through the post they will have your name and address on. Take care when throwing anything identifiable away, such as envelopes, packaging, letters etc, that you have made any names and addresses unreadable before putting them in the bin. Identity theft is still a major problem, and this often begins by criminals rifling through rubbish to find personal details – it’s amazing what you can glean from what people throw out. Ideally, shred documents before disposing of them, but if this is not possible, at least make sure your details cannot be read.

The second Christmas card related issue crops up if you’re going away over the holiday period. Nothing quite attracts the attention of a burglar like a doormat covered in post – it’s a sure signal that the house is unoccupied. Either get a friend to come in and pick up your post, or better still, get your own postbox or letterbox cage that will hold the post away from view. The latter also prevents anyone fishing for car keys that might be on view through your letterbox, so it’s a win-win.

Think before your post

As with summer holidays, be careful about making public the fact you’re going away too. Thieves scour social media for posts like this, so if you’re escaping to sunnier climes, think twice before posting an airport selfie without first checking your privacy settings to be sure who you’re sharing this information with. This social media rule also applies to Christmas presents – you may be tempted to share a lovely gift on Facebook or Instagram, but if it’s expensive, you are rather advertising the fact that it’s in your house, and this may be a temptation for a burglar scrolling past.

It’s not just social media – I was reading the other day about an ex-burglar who advises people not to leave calendars on show. I hadn’t considered this before and at first glance it did seem a bit over-cautious but there is some sense in it – if your calendar is up in your kitchen, visible through a window and you’ve got a countdown to a holiday on there, this information could be used by someone noseying around to then return when the house is empty.

On the subject of looking through windows, where you put your tree requires consideration. (This does remind me of the old joke – “Did you put your tree up yourself?” – “No, I put it in the lounge). Whilst it’s nice and festive to have a tree on show by the window, this usually will also mean that there are presents by the window too. So maybe put it a little further inside the room, or at least have the curtains closed as soon as it gets dark so it’s not as noticeable.

Well, there you go. Now I’ve done my annual “Careful now” Christmas blog, it just feels so much more festive doesn’t it. But hopefully we’ll all enjoy a Christmas free of break-ins, and we’ll be able to enjoy a period of fun and (if you’re lucky) rest.