According to CSO figures, burglaries have increased by 18.5% since 2007.
As the effects of recession deepen, burglaries will continue to be a serious issue for homeowners.
A house or apartment left empty during a holiday is a prime target, but there are some simple steps you can take to keep your home safe from intruders.
1. Ask a Friend to Check In
Ask a friend to check in while you’re away. It’s a good idea if they collect your post and turn a light or two on. Post piling up and a house with lights off all day are tipoffs for burglars. They should have all of your contact information in case of emergencies.
2. Don’t announce your trip on Social Media
It’s very common these days for people to announce their holidays on Facebook and Twitter, and to post photos while away. Social Media profiles can be accessed by friends of friends who you might know nothing about. Are you sure you want to tell complete strangers that you will be away for 2 weeks on date X?
3. Get a ‘Beware of Dog’ Sign
Whether you have a dog or not, a simple sign saying ‘Beware of Dog’ could be sufficient deterrent to thieves.
4. Keep your Alarm System Maintained and Visible
If you don’t have an alarm system, get one. Make sure you have a sign on your house indicating the alarm. Don’t keep it a secret. That could be enough to deter an amateur thief. Keep your system maintained to avoid false alarms.
5. Security Lighting 
While many burglaries are committed during the day, houses are often scoped out at night by professional burglars. Outdoor security lighting will help alert neighbours. As we mentioned in tip #1, it’s good to leave a couple of lights on while you’re away to give the impression that the house is occupied. To avoid arriving home to high electricity bills, buy a light switch timer to turn lights on and off according to your schedule.
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