BURGLARY FACTS
- Burglars tend to avoid homes with security systems.
- Most burglaries take place between 10am and 3pm.
- The majority of break-ins are committed by burglars who live nearby.
- Most criminals can burglarise a home in less than ten minutes.
- 30% of burglars enter a home through an unlocked door or window.
- An astonishing 34% of burglars enter through the front door.
- Someone is home during nearly three out of every ten burglaries.
- Burglars usually go to the master bedroom first.
- The average properties euro loss per burglary is a staggering €2000
- Only 13.6% of burglaries in 2016 resulted in arrests.
Long weekend security tip #1: Ask a neighbour for help
Enlist a trusty neighbour to keep an eye on the property and especially bring the bins in. Nothing screams vacant property like empty bins left on the curb for days. Your neighbour can also empty your letterbox of junk mail, and generally keep an eye on your home.
Long weekend security tip#2: Don’t advertise your absence on social media 
Shouting out on social media that you’re off to the beach is fine amongst trusted friends. But if your social media privacy settings enable anyone to see your posts, well, anyone can see your posts! That includes thieves, who like nothing better than advance notice that you’ll be away from your home for a time. By all means, share updates on social media. But make sure only trusted friends see them, not a random you worked with ten years ago.
Long weekend security tip #3: Lights and security 
If you have a home security alarm, check it thoroughly before you leave. It’s easy to get complacent when you have a home alarm, but if you don’t maintain it and check it regularly, it’s useless. If you have a timer, set your lights to reflect typical household usage. Don’t leave lights on all night. You’ll have an expensive electricity bill and homes lit up at 4am but silent are glaringly obvious to would-be thieves.
Long weekend security tip #4 keep items hidden from view 
Move your flat screen TV and your latest model gaming console away from the window. Thieves love to case a property in advance and see what they can grab quickly. Don’t leave cash on the bench or a fancy jewellery box on the bedroom table. Thieves love cash, electronics and jewels. If they see these items from the outside they’ll be very tempted to smash and grab on a long weekend.
Long weekend security tip #5: keep blinds open 
It’s tempting to close blinds so thieves can’t see in. But, if your blinds are typically open during the day, closed blinds are a strong signal that your routine has changed. Admittedly, blinds open at night is also a signal to burglars that you aren’t home. It’s a dilemma. We believe that thieves most often case properties during the day. So having the property looking lived in during daylight hours is the best bet.
Top tip… 
As most of us are trying to get out in the garden even if its just for a tidy up, please remember garden tools can be used to help intruders break into your home, so keep them securely locked away and out of sight in a shed or garage.