Quote from Penny McCarthy on December 20, 2024, 3:04 pm

Christmas is a time of joy and celebration, with homes filled with gifts, festive cheer, and often valuable new items. But while we’re enjoying the season, burglars see an opportunity. Expensive presents under the tree and high-tech gadgets around the home can be too tempting for opportunistic thieves.

It’s easy to get caught up in the festivities and forget about home security. Simple things like displaying your Christmas tree and gifts through the window, or leaving items like jewellery, car keys, or electronics in plain sight can invite unwanted attention. Even decorations and expensive artwork visible from the outside can act as a beacon for intruders.

This Christmas, keep the focus on celebrating with loved ones and not worrying about what might go wrong. Close curtains after dark, avoid leaving valuables where they can be seen, and consider extra precautions like lights on timers or a security system. By taking a few simple steps, you can enjoy a safe and happy festive season.

The Metropolitan Police state that, “Burglars target homes that they think will contain valuables.” warning that “Anything of value that they might spot through a window will only spur them on.”

With Christmas gifts under the tree, homeowners need to be cautious so here are five ways to protect your home:

1. CCTV Cameras

CCTV serves as both a deterrent and a way to collect evidence in the unfortunate case of a break-in. Cameras are most efficient when positioned high enough to avoid tampering but angled correctly to identify individuals. Features like night vision, motion detection, and high resolution are essential to help you monitor activity and capture vital details.

The Yorkshire Police highlight the importance of ensuring CCTV cameras are accurate saying, “Remember to accurately time-stamp your CCTV with the correct date and time, just in case it is needed for evidential purposes.”  You can ensure you are following the latest guidance on the use of domestic CCTV on the GOV.UK website.

Best Usage Tips:

• Place cameras at entry points like doors and large windows.
• Regularly check that cameras are functional and time-stamped correctly for legal use
• Respect privacy laws by ensuring that the system only covers your property

2. Smart Lighting

Burglars are more active during the holiday seasons as people go away, leaving their house empty. Simulating your presence using smart lighting can make it appear like someone is at home and deter burglars from attempting a break-in. Smart lighting creates the illusion of occupancy by automating lights to turn on and off at set intervals or in response to motion.

Thames Valley Police highlight the safety benefits of lighting stating, “Lighting is a good deterrent and is recommended at doors as it makes it safer for you when coming and going after dark.”

Modern systems can even be controlled remotely via smartphone apps, allowing you to mimic your normal routines even when away.

Best Usage Tips:

• Use outdoor motion-detection lights to illuminate dark areas.
• Schedule indoor lights in living rooms or kitchens to mimic activity.
• Avoid predictable patterns; vary the timing and locations of lights.

3. Smart Audio Systems

Smart speakers or sound systems can create the illusion of activity within a home, which is a proven deterrent for opportunistic burglars seeking empty properties. By playing music, radio shows, or recorded sounds like conversations or a barking dog, these systems make it appear that someone is inside, reducing the likelihood of a break-in. Smart audio systems can be seamlessly integrated into a larger smart security ecosystem for enhanced effectiveness.

Lincolnshire Police state that “Burglars are aware of the times when someone is expected to be away from their house such as during the school run or holidays”. In this instance smart speakers could be used to mimic the sound of people or movement in the house, therefore deterring burglars that may otherwise have known the house was empty.

Best Usage Tips:

• Use scheduled playtimes to mimic normal household activity.
• Consider sounds like conversations or TV noise for added realism.
• Integrate with smart lighting systems to mimic a convincing occupied home.

4. Video Doorbells

Video doorbells combine the functionality of CCTV and two-way communication, making them an effective tool for home security. They allow you to see and speak to anyone at your door in real-time through a smartphone app, no matter where you are. Motion-detection features alert you to activity at your doorstep, and video recordings provide evidence if needed.

Video doorbells can be highly effective in deterring break-ins by giving the impression that someone is monitoring the home at all times.

POLICE.UK shared an article where they recommend you “use your door viewer to see who’s there” to protect against distraction burglary. Distraction burglars pretend to be someone they are not in order to gain entry to your home. They go on to say “Don’t be afraid to ask questions about anyone at your door – genuine callers won’t mind.” In this instance a video doorbell is the perfect tool.

Best Usage Tips:

• Place the doorbell at an appropriate height for clear video.
• Use motion-sensitivity settings to avoid false alerts from passing traffic.
• Connect the device with other smart home systems, such as lights or alarms, to enhance security.

5. Smart Blinds:

You might not realise, but apps can actually put your blinds up and down in the daytime, to make it look like someone is home.

As Harry Doling, Business Development Director of Umbra Shading explains:

With homes filled with Christmas gifts and cash, it’s important to be vigilant when it comes to protecting your home from burglary. Blinds are often overlooked as a deterrent to burglary.

But blinds can be set to activate at a set time of day, or even set dynamically for sunset and sunrise which will be different each day. 

Blinds also conserve energy from heat loss via windows when you’re not home, an additional benefit for this time of year.

Best Usage Tips

• Sync with lighting for optimal presence simulation
• Choose blackout blinds for full coverage from prying eyes
• Automate opening and closing to coincide with daylight hours