Thieves earn their living round the clock. Afterall, you are always there to provide them with their treasure trove every single hour of the day, simply by being away from home. Around 1,700 people become the targets of pickpockets daily. Opportunist thieves and con artists are constantly on the look-out for any chance to steal your money and valuables while you are out shopping.

Similarly, you can easily turn into a victim while you are away from home, as your property becomes a target, too. You may be following a routine of picking the kids up from school at 2p.m. sharp everyday, without knowing that someone is slyly observing and waiting until you are away to have his plunder at 2p.m. Otherwise, you might be enjoying a vacation, particularly during school holidays, and thieves know this is a popular time for families to vacate their house (leaving behind ‘only’ most of their belongings!)- Indeed, your house turns into the favourite playground for burglars.

Easy, express and effective measures can work wonders to help prevent you and your household falling victim:

1. Try to pay using a debit card rather than carrying large amounts of cash.
2. Be careful when using a cashpoint or chip and pin – cover the keypad with your hand.
3. Never write down your pin number.
4. Never keep your wallet/purse where it is easily reachable to straying and searching hands, such as in your back pocket on in your open handbag.
5. Don’t leave any bags, including your handbag, in the shopping trolley while you shop.
6. Stay alert when using your mobile. It’s very easy for someone to snatch it out of your hand.
7. Don’t return to your car to leave purchases in the boot before continuing with your shopping, as thieves can watch in car parks.
8. Don’t leave any valuable, including your house keys in your car – they attract opportunist thieves.

Safety for your property:

1. Create the illusion that your house is occupied; don’t close your curtains and use automatic timer-switches to turn your lights and radios on when it goes dark.
2. Cancel any newspaper or milk deliveries. Call your local post office to stop mail delivery until you get back.
3. Inform the local police or neighbourhood watch to keep an eye out.
4. Trusted neighbours and friends may be helpful by collecting your post, parking their car on your driveway or even keeping your landscape trimmed.
5. Avoid taking a taxi to the airport. If you do, use a taxi company you can rely on, and don’t discuss your holiday plans.
6. Leave important documents and valuable items with other family members or a bank, or locked in a safe. Store all your garden tools and equipment inside, out of sight of passers-by.
7. Do not put your home address on your luggage when you are travelling to your holiday destination. A house number and postcode will suffice if you want to label your luggage.
8. Don’t boast about being away from home on social media… burglars will have something to boast about soon after. Avoid placing this message on your phone answering machine either.
9. Lock all doors and windows and ensure the padlocks, bolts and hinges are doing their job, and the keys are not lying around.
10. Tighten home defence by installing added-security-features, including active alarm and CCTV systems, as well as Security Roller Shutters, Security Grilles and Window Bars. These up-to-date booby traps operate quicker and cleverer than those that worked against the villains in any Home Alone movie!

Returning home from a relaxing day out or from a memorable trip to find your belongings missing at the end of it all can be downright devastating. Avoid becoming one of the victims of crime when you are away from the home, by making it a habit of taking the simple, yet efficient and necessary safety precautions.