Holiday ahead? Before leaving, remove the plugs from the sockets, turn off the taps and, above all, make sure that your house looks inhabited. That is the advice of Ilona Snaterse-Leidelmeijer, a police volunteer specialized in prevention.
How do you reduce the risk of burglary in your home while you are on vacation?
“Make your house look as unattractive as possible. The school holidays in particular are an attractive time for burglars, because many people are on holiday then. It doesn’t matter what kind of neighborhood you live in, we see burglaries in all kinds of homes and neighborhoods. Burglars often do some sort of preliminary reconnaissance; they walk or drive by car along a neighborhood to see which house is attractive to break into. We therefore always advise the police to be alert to the environment and to make your house appear as inhabited as possible when you go on holiday.
How do you make it look like you’re just at home?
“Let at least a light burn in the evenings. Burglars don’t like to be in the spotlight. The best thing is to always turn on a different light. This is convenient to set with a timer, but if you don’t have one, you can also ask your neighbors to do it for you. Mail that accumulates behind the door or in the mailbox is also a sign that no one is home. You can ask someone to open and close your curtains every now and then and possibly put some other things on the coffee table. If you don’t have anyone who can do this for you, at least make sure you always leave a lamp on.”
What should you not do?
“Don’t leave keys under a doormat or upturned flower pot. Also, don’t put a table or waste container near windows, so that burglars can climb on them and gain entry. Don’t leave valuable items in sight and don’t mention on social media that you’re going on vacation and don’t post photos about your vacation.”
How do you leave your home safely?
Close your windows and doors properly. Unplug electrical appliances that you are not using. This way you prevent a short circuit or fire after a lightning strike and you also save energy. Of course you have to run a refrigerator, but the plug of a kettle or coffee maker can simply be removed. If you are sure that no gas is being used, you can close the main tap. The same goes for water. This way you prevent problems in the event of a leak.”
Can we go on holiday carefree?
,,Of course it is. We do not see at the police that people have started to feel less safe. We do see that people are more aware of possible dangers. And that is only very good, because that way you know what to look out for before departure and can therefore enjoy your holiday.”
Expert tips:
Cameras
Whether it is an equipped model or dummy: a burglar does not like to stand in the picture. A camera can work preventively. Do aim it at your own property (house, garden or shed) and not at that of others or the public road. This is not allowed for privacy reasons.
Backyard
Don’t just pay attention to the front of your house, but also provide good lighting at the back and close your gate and shed properly. Don’t forget to lock the bicycles in the storage room.
Register
Register your valuables via stopheling.nl. This makes it easier for the police to retrieve recovered goods after theft.
Contact
Leave your telephone number or address with neighbors or other stragglers, so that they can always reach you when you are not at home.
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