Holiday Burglary: How To Avoid The Summertime Blues
It’s an old cliché — the cat burglar prowling around in the shadows under cover of darkness. But according to the Burglary Report 2008, you’ve more chance of being burgled in the afternoon than in the dead of night.
October is the peak month for break-ins. But the summer months can also offer easy pickings for would-be thieves.
For a start, there are more empty houses in the summer. In every street, there will be families off on holiday. And those who stay at home are more likely to be out and about in the summer months.
You don’t have to be far away to become the victim of a break-in. In fact most burglars now strike while there’s someone in the house — 80 per cent, according to the Burglary Report 2008.
And then there’s that grey area in the middle, when you’re in, but you’re out. Maybe you’re round the back tackling the barbecue, or perhaps you’ve been lured out by the sunshine to get reacquainted with the garden tools.
For a burglar, an open window can be like a signed invitation. They can be in and out in minutes, in the time to it takes to grill a sausage.
There are some simple steps you can take to avoid the ruination of your summer. If you’re going to be out, even in your own garden, keep your doors and windows secure.
Don’t leave items such as jewellery, laptops, mobile phones or iPods lying unguarded in your garden. Even things like portable gas barbecues can be targets. An opportunist thief can be in your garden and back out again in seconds.
If you’re going on holiday, don’t broadcast it too widely. On your way to the airport, give the taxi driver the impression there’s still someone at home. The occasional rogue taxi driver has been known to tip off dodgy acquaintances about empty houses.
If you’ve a glass-fronted door, it might be an idea to ask a neighbour to come in every few days to remove the junk mail and free papers that can quickly accumulate.
Try to keep shrubbery at bay. In the summertime, trees and bushes can become overgrown and provide perfect cover for would-be burglars.
The most effective deterrent of all is an alarm system. A good security system with sensors and remote monitoring could be one of the best investments you’ve ever made — although like healthy eating, it’s often those who don’t do it who become most painfully aware of the benefits, after it’s too late.
My own advice would be to get in touch with a reputable security company to talk things over. Eircom’s PhoneWatch has a useful website with lots of helpful info on the different systems available.
According to the old song, there ain’t no cure for the summertime blues. But in the case of the summertime burglary blues, there is a cure. Prevention. The best cure of all.
