Tips to keep your home safe when you’re away on holiday

THE last thing we want when we come home from a holiday is to find out that our home has been broken into or worse, burnt down.

Allianz General Insurance Company (Malaysia) Bhd head of property Belinda Wong offers some safety tips for those who are leaving their homes for a holiday.

She suggested that home owners put themselves in the shoes of a home intruder to detect the weak points of a house.

“It is really about identifying opportunities to improve security in and around your home and making the necessary improvements,” said Wong.

Here are seven tips to increase security of your home

1 Secure your premises

Apart from making sure your doors and windows are locked before you leave, look out for gates, grills, windows and doors in need of repair and do them quickly. Besides that, invest in a good security system that offers you the best protection.

2 Motion sensor lighting

If a security system is beyond your budget, try motion sensor lighting. Install them at the front porch, backyard and dark corners around your home. Shining a spotlight is bound to give intruders a real fright!

3 Unplug electronic devices

Unplug electronic devices which are not in use except for the refrigerator to avoid power surges. Remember to also turn off the water supply at the main valve and remove your domestic gas cylinder cap.

4 Keep a low profile on social media

Resist the temptation to flaunt the scenic view from your hotel balcony and refrain from sharing your whereabouts on social media. You never know who is watching.

5 Inform your neighbour if you are away

In that way, they can keep a lookout for suspicious activities and report them if necessary while you are away and, of course, do the same for your neighbour.  

6 Keep a neat compound

If you are doing work outdoors, do not leave your ladder, toolbox or gardening tools unattended. These tools could give burglars easy access to your home.

7 Get a home insurance

Consider getting a home insurance that covers loss or damage to the residential building, household contents and personal effects, reimburses repair for burst pipes, replacement of house doors, locks and windows or any home repair service.