Holiday-Proof Your Home: The Locksmith's 10 - Point Security Checklist
There’s nothing quite like the excitement of an upcoming trip - booking flights, packing bags, and planning your itinerary. But before you step out the door, take an hour to secure your home. Peace of mind is the best souvenir you can bring back. As your trusted Irish locksmith service, we’ve put together the ultimate 10-point checklist to maximize your home's security while you're away.
✔️ The Door Essentials (Your First Line of Defence)
1. Check Your Main Locks: Inspect the locks on your front and back doors. Are they working smoothly? Are they secure? If you have Euro cylinder locks (the common type found in uPVC doors), ensure they are anti - snap certified. This protects against the most common form of forced entry in Ireland.
2. Lock the Letterbox: A thief can use a coat hanger or specialized tool to “fish” for keys left close to the front door. Consider installing a security plate on the inside of your letterbox, or simply make sure all keys are stored well out of reach.
3. Choose Your Key-Holder Wisely: Never, ever leave a spare key under a doormat, in a plant pot, or on top of a door frame. This is the first place a burglar looks. Instead, leave a key with a trusted neighbour or family member who can check on the property.
✔️ Windows, Gates, and Garages
4. Secure All Windows: This is the most common oversight. Ensure every window - especially those on the ground floor or easily accessible from a flat roof - is properly locked. If your window handles don't have built-in locks, consider installing simple, inexpensive window restrictors or catches.
5. Secure Sliding Doors and Patio Doors: Sliding doors are vulnerable to being lifted off their tracks or forced open. Use a secondary security measure, such as a wooden dowel or metal bar placed in the bottom track, to prevent the door from sliding open.
6. Lock Away Tools and Ladders: Your own equipment can be used against you. Make sure all valuable items, ladders, and tools in sheds or garages are locked away. Ensure your garage and shed doors have sturdy, high-quality padlocks and bolts.
✔️ The Illusions (Making it Look Like You’re Home)
7. Use Timers for Lights and Radios: Burglars look for darkness and silence. Use simple timer switches for indoor lights (especially in the living room or kitchen) and perhaps even a radio to create the illusion of occupancy. Varying the times they switch on is key.
8. Stop the Mail Clutter: A full letterbox or piles of junk mail signal an empty house. Ask your trusted neighbour to collect your post daily. This makes your absence less obvious.
9. Social Media Silence: Avoid posting real-time updates, photos, or check-ins until you are safely back home. Announcing your holiday dates online is essentially inviting trouble. Post your pictures when you return!
10. Notify a Contact: Leave an itinerary and your contact information with the person who has your key. Also, double-check that your alarm system is armed and working correctly before you walk out the door.
Don't let worry spoil your trip. If you need new, high-security locks installed or a professional security audit before you travel, call Dialock locksmiths today.
