Festive fortress: 10 expert tips for safeguarding your home

It's December and for many South Africans that means taking a much-needed break somewhere other than our homes. But with an increase in festive cheer, there is often also an increase in criminal activity. 

"Even if you aren't soaking up the sun on a beach somewhere, you may be spending hours away from home enjoying a braai with friends or family," says Berry Everitt, CEO of the Chas Everitt International property group. "While it's important that we all find time to relax and enjoy our holidays, it's equally important to remain vigilant and to keep our families, property and possessions safe." 

These 10 tips will help you secure your property and reduce the chance that thieves will target your home.

Use a house sitter 
Hiring a house sitter is an excellent deterrent as your home will be occupied even while you're away. If this isn't an option, ask a friend, family member or neighbour to keep an eye on your home, empty your mailbox and put out your rubbish bin on collection days. 

Know your neighbours
The better you know your neighbours, the easier it is to spot unusual activity. A friendly neighbour is also more inclined to keep a watchful eye on your home while you aren't there. Report any suspicious or unusual activity on your neighbourhood WhatsApp group. 

Review home security
Your best defence is layers of security, such as an alarm system, electric fence, security cameras, exterior beams and a safe for valuables. Before you leave, review the system and ensure it's working efficiently. Beware of the impact of loadshedding and have back-up batteries in place. You should also inform your security company of the dates that you will be away. 

Eliminate hiding places
Cut back overgrown bushes and shrubs so that there are fewer hiding places for potential thieves. Tall trees can also be used to gain access to upper floor levels, so ensure these are trimmed. If you are going to be away for an extended period, arrange for someone to mow your lawn and clean your pool.

Secure garages and sheds
These outdoor rooms are prime targets for criminals, who can also use ladders and tools found in them to gain entry to your home. Ensure that laundry rooms, garages, sheds and storage rooms are properly secured. 

Don't leave gaps
A certain giveaway that you are away on holiday is if the space where your caravan, boat or trailer has been parked for the past year is suddenly empty. If you can, park a spare car in its place while you are away.

Be light savvy
A big indicator that you are not home is when your lights are on all day and night. If you don't have a house sitter, invest in fitted timers to switch lights on and off at certain times. Flood lights with motion sensors are also a good idea as they can startle and potentially deter a would-be thief. Lighting is an important security feature as thieves are less inclined to approach a well-lit area.

Watch your rubbish
Be mindful of the rubbish that you are throwing out. Nothing advertises your new flatscreen TV like having its empty box next to your rubbish bin. Keep these boxes out of sight or fold them up so they aren't easily visible. 

Stay off social media 
You may share your life on social platforms, but it's best if you keep your holiday plans to yourself. Posting images of your beach holiday is an advertisement to thieves that you are not at home. Similarly, avoid posting images of expensive new items that you received as gifts. You never know who gets to see these images.

Have an emergency plan 
It's not pleasant to have to think about an emergency plan, but it is necessary. If someone breaks into your home while you are there, your family needs to know what to do. Ensure that you have panic buttons that are working and accessible. In addition, have the phone numbers of your security company and emergency services on speed dial.  

Few things ruin a holiday quite like coming home to find that your house has been broken into. It's important that you not become complacent when it comes to personal and home security, so ensure that you are alert and have a professional security system in place before the holiday season begins. By following a few careful steps, you can keep your home safe and enjoy an incident-free holiday.