The one thing guaranteed to spoil your holiday is worrying about what’s happening in the home you’ve left behind. You could be lying on a beach in the Maldives, but if your mind suddenly wanders onto whether you locked the back door properly, the experience is anything but relaxing.
Recent research found that over half of people worry about security when they’re away, with car security and parcel safety among the top concerns.
Luckily we’re in a world now where decent security kit for your home is ever more accessible (I personally am a fan of the Ring doorbell and cameras, which mean I can monitor who’s coming and going from my home even when I’m not there). Aside from getting the modern kit there are also lots of simple, inexpensive steps you can take to make your home safer. Here three home security experts share their top tips…
Light up the darkest spots in your home and garden
‘The most vulnerable points of a home tend to be the ones that are easiest to overlook, such as side gates, rear entrances, ground-floor windows, garages, and concealed access paths,’ says Alex Parker-Walklate, Chief Insurance Officer at Intelligent Insurance. ‘Poorly lit, dark areas around your home such as these can provide burglars with helpful hiding spots, making it easier for them to approach undetected.
‘Similarly, overgrown hedges, shrubs, or trees near windows and doors can also act as cover for potential intruders, but trimming vegetation and installing motion-sensor lighting outside creates better exterior visibility and deters thieves.’
‘A Floodlight or Spotlight Camera can simultaneously trigger motion, start recording and flood the area with light,’ recommends Dave Ward, Ring’s UK & International Managing Director. ‘Most intruders aren’t keen on being suddenly illuminated, so it’s an effective deterrent that often stops things before they start.’
Layer up on security measures
‘Layering up’ on measures to put off criminals is a good way to think about protecting your home from burglaries, says Sebastian Allen, security expert at Banham. ‘At a minimum, we recommend professionally fitted patented locks, a monitored burglar alarm and good external lighting around the property,’ he says. ‘Adding a secure safe for valuables, a CCTV system covering key access points, grilles and a reinforced security door can provide further layers of meaningful protection.’
Stash away your car key fobs
Advances in car technology may have made our lives easier in some ways, but they can also pose whole new ways for thieves to target vehicles. ‘An emerging risk is the increase in relay attacks on keyless cars,’ says Allen. ‘Criminals use signal amplifying devices to capture the signal from a key fob inside the home, allowing them to unlock and steal a vehicle parked outside without any visible signs of forced entry. To reduce this threat, keep key fobs in a signal-blocking pouch and store them away from doors and windows.’
Set up indoor lights for when you’re away
Smart plugs for your indoor lamps that are controlled by the Alexa app or Echo device are a ‘smart and effective deterrent,’ according to Ward. However, it’s a good idea to make sure these are not too uniform in their timing, if possible. ‘Having predictable routines hinders your security more than people think, as repetitive lighting timers going on and off at the same time, in the same rooms every night, can tip-off burglars that a property is empty,’ says Parker-Walklate. ‘Using various timers, smart lighting, and motion sensors are options that can help vary light routines, creating the appearance of someone being home.’
Always lock your side gate
‘Side gates and fencing are a weak spot, and leaving side gates open, unlocked, or having low fences can give intruders easy, unseen access to your doors or windows, especially at the side or rear of the property,’ says Parker-Walklate. ‘Securing gates with sturdy locks and ensuring fencing is high and well-maintained makes access significantly more difficult and reduces the likelihood of someone targeting your home in the first place.’
Protect your parcels
‘Parcel theft has become a genuinely significant issue as online shopping has grown, and if you let parcels and mail accumulate on your doorstep, it can signal that nobody’s home, making you a prime target for “porch pirates”,’ says Parker-Walklate. ‘You can avoid this by arranging for deliveries to be collected by a neighbour, using parcel lockers, or pausing scheduled deliveries until you are back home.’
Make the most of modern camera equipment
Once upon a time people regularly stuck up fake CCTV cameras to deter criminals, but nowadays it’s more likely than not the real deal. ‘The change in home security over the years has been enormous,’ says Ward. ‘We’ve gone from grainy footage to Retinal Vision 4K where you can actually zoom in, recognise a face incredibly clearly, or see something at the end of the drive.’
However, he says, ‘the real game-changer has been AI. Your camera can now tell the difference between a person, a vehicle, and a package, and you’ll get detailed notifications like “A person is walking up the steps with a brown dog” or “Two people are peering into a blue car in the driveway.” Before you’ve even opened the app, you’ll know whether it’s something urgent or something innocent, like garden wildlife. That context matters enormously when you’re trying to decide if you need to act.’
Don’t make the obvious mistakes
‘The mistakes we see most often are usually small oversights that seem innocuous, but can inadvertently put you at high risk,’ says Parker-Walklate. ‘Hiding a spare key under the doormat or in a flowerpot is still incredibly common, but if you’ve thought of that idea, chances are an intruder has too, and if there’s no sign of forced entry after a break-in, leaving a key in an obvious place can actually complicate an insurance claim.’
‘A better option is to leave a spare with someone you trust, or use a secure lockbox with a code known only to you and a trusted neighbour,’ says Allen. ‘If you’re going away then while you’re at it ask that neighbour to keep an eye on the property and take in any post or parcels, as a pile-up on the doorstep is one of the clearest signals that a home is empty.’
Ward adds: ‘The biggest risk factors are most often the basics – unsecured doors and windows, garages left open, valuables visible from outside, and a lack of security monitoring such as cameras or an alarm.’
Avoid anything that could void your insurance
Insurance expert Parker-Walklate says: ‘Some policies require specific security features such as deadlocks, burglar alarms, or secure windows, so if these are missing or not properly maintained should the worst occur, it could affect your payout. Unsecured outbuildings are consistently overlooked, but if a tool, bike, or BBQ is stolen from an unlocked shed, insurers may not pay out. Locks are your first line of defence, and your policy expects them to be in place, so treat your outbuildings’ security just as you would your home.’
Allen adds that when going on holiday you should ‘check in with your insurer before any extended absence. Most policies have conditions around unoccupied properties, often as few as 30 consecutive days, and if you haven’t notified them and something goes wrong, it could affect your claim. A quick call before you travel costs nothing and could save a great deal of stress on your return.
Only post about your holiday on social media after you come home
In the always-on world of social media, it can be very tempting to post about your holiday the minute you step onto the airplane. However, this is a bad idea, says Parker-Walklate. ‘Posting real-time travel updates can signal to opportunistic burglars that your home is empty. Instead, save the holiday snaps for after you return and keep your location data private. It’s worth checking your children’s accounts as well, or setting rules on what they can and can’t post.’
Protect your work-from-home set-up
According to Allen ‘the work from home boom has created vulnerabilities, as many people now have home offices filled with pricey tech and specialist gear, from dual monitors and 3D printers to photography or podcasting equipment. These are high-value items that can be extremely tempting to burglars, so it is important to keep them out of sight from windows, avoid advertising purchases on social media, and consider additional security such as window locks, alarms, or smart cameras. It’s not only equipment that poses a risk. People running side businesses from home and storing stock on site may also attract unwanted attention, so keeping deliveries discreet, storing goods away from visible areas, and reviewing your insurance cover can help reduce both the likelihood and the impact of a break-in.’
Hide away your valuables
You wouldn’t leave your expensive handbag in view on the seat of your car, so why leave pricey computers or gadgets near the windows to your home? ‘Visible valuables are an invitation, as when you leave laptops, TVs, and other items in plain sight from street-facing windows, burglars could be tempted to return when no one’s home – or worse, see it as an opportune moment for a smash and grab,’ says Parker-Walklate.
Watch out for scams that identify empty or vulnerable homes
‘There has been a rise in AI-assisted scams targeting homeowners,’ reveals Allen. ‘These can include fake delivery notifications or courier messages sent to confirm whether a property is occupied, as well as convincing emails or calls from individuals posing as broadband providers, utility companies, or even local tradespeople asking about home access, alarm systems, or planned time away. Because these tactics are designed to gather small but useful details, being cautious about what information is shared and verifying unexpected contact through official channels can help prevent your home from being profiled as an easy target.’
Check your locks (and upgrade where necessary)
‘Upgrading to British Standard locks specifically, BS3621 for doors and PAS 24 for windows, is widely accepted by insurers as an effective deterrent and can be especially important for ground-floor access points,’ says Allen. It might sound obvious, but make sure you actually double-check everything before going away on holiday, as it can be easy to forget when you’re rushing around.
‘Before you leave, do a thorough walk-around, checking every door and window, including upstairs, and don’t forget outbuildings, sheds, garages, and gates. It sounds obvious, but in the rush of packing and getting out the door, it’s surprisingly easy to miss something,’ he says. ‘Make sure sheds and garages have proper locks, not just a basic padlock.’
Don’t slack on maintenance
‘The key point is that security only works if it’s actually maintained,’ says Allen. ‘An alarm with a flat battery or a lock you haven’t checked in years won’t provide real protection, and insurers will want evidence of upkeep if you ever need to make a claim. Make sure to test alarms regularly, replacing batteries and updating codes as needed.’
