With the holiday season around the corner, ensuring the security of your home, before you head off on holiday, is of the utmost importance. Household robberies are particularly frequent during the holidays as criminals view unoccupied houses as easy targets.
CORTAC Managing Director Mark Notelovitz says: “Statistics show that criminal activity increases as the year draws to a close – particularly from the end of October to mid-December. It is essential that homeowners take precautions before the holiday season begins. December is usually a very busy time for armed response companies, so we implore homeowners to test their alarms a few weeks before going on holiday.”
Alarms need to be properly maintained and should be tested at least once a year to ensure they are in proper working order. Call CORTAC before you initiate testing and its best to do so out of peak hours (8am – 4pm or after 8pm). If you need a techician to service your alarm, make sure you book the service well before the holiday period.
Here are 10 tips from CORTAC to get your security in order before you head for the holidays:
- Test your alarm and device battery to ensure they are functional. Book CORTAC’s technicians to service your alarm now, if required.
- Check your panic button batteries and change them if required.
- Check your electric fence and cut any overhanging branches to avoid false alarms while away.
- Leave a spare set of keys, as well as a contact address and phone number, with a neighbour in case of an emergency. Remember to give the keyholder details to CORTAC.
- Notify CORTAC that you are going away.
- Inform your neighbours of your holiday plans so that they can keep an eye on your property.
- Place valuables such as jewellery and electronics in a safe.
- Don’t leave keys visible inside your house – lock them all away, out of sight.
- Appoint a reputable house sitting service, neighbour or friend to keep tabs on your property and to switch on lights, feed pets, clear post boxes of mail, water plants and put out rubbish bins on collection day.
- Remove any objects that may be used to gain access: walk around your property and lock away items such as ladders and workshop tools.