Check our Home Security checklist

Tell as few people as possible about your departure

Consult with neighbour/ keyholder about your absense

Arrange someone to come as often as possible to check mail/look place over

Cancel papers/milk /other regular deliveries

Check no other one off deliveries due/Amazon/catalogue company/book club

Ensure exterior lighting is working properly

Ensure burglar alarm is working properly

Set timer switches in several rooms to came on and off at different times

Leave a radio playing on a mainly ‘talk’ channel

Leave a magazine and some mugs on a table visible to an inlooker

Consider curtains/blinds. Get someone to draw them/leave in mid position

Consider getting someone to leave a car parked in your drive

Arrange to have the lawn cut

Consider removing valuable articles from premises

Lock all opening windows

Consider screwing shut very accessible/seldom used windows

Insert metal/wooden   rod to prevent opening of patio doors

Consider screw fixings to prevent lifting out of patio doors

Lock all doors fully, including any extra bolts/chains

Lock sheds/garage as securely as possible

Hide mowers/chainsaws/tools from sight in locked location

Ensure tools that would assist a break-in are unavailable

Chain ladders to prevent access

Consider making an inventory of the contents of your home by list and/or:

Take photos (with ruler in shot) or video of you possessions. Store photos on disk

Postcode, with security pen, your possessions. Find out more

Ensure you record serial No/price/seller of principle valuable items DVD etc

Unplug modem line from computer

Back up vital computer information and store securely

Remove cheque books/credit/store cards/savings account books to safe place

Label keys in a code only you can understand and remove to safe place

Leave no keys in reach of doors or windows that could be forced

Do not advertise you absence or its length on telephone recorded message

Liase with your neighbourhood watch coordinator

Consider informing police

Turn off/adjust gas/water /electricity according to season and/or

Set thermostat to frost protection.

Ensure sufficient heating fuel/LPG in tank