Protect your Christmas Protect your Christmas - BusinessWatch

Protect your Christmas

The tinsel’s sparkling, the fairy lights are twinkling and the presents are wrapped under the tree – an open invitation for opportunist burglars to make their Christmas – with yours.

As city people splash out hundreds of pounds on gifts, thieves are on the look out for some bargains of their own, according to city security expert Mark Ellwood.

“With people getting into the festive spirit they often let their guard down which makes them, their homes and contents, easy targets,” said Mark, Operations Manager (Fire and Electronics), at The BusinessWatch Group.

But just a few simple steps can help improve your home’s security and make it less vulnerable - leaving you to celebrate without worrying.

“Returning from a seasonal night out to find your home has been ransacked is something no one wants to experience,” said Mark, who has almost 20 years experience in the security industry. “Of course, I would always suggest having a burglar alarm fitted to your home. Having an alarm is the number one deterrent for burglars. But there are other steps you can take that cost nothing and take very little time which will make your stocking fillers less tempting to thieves.

“The key is to not leave anything of value on show and to not advertise the fact you aren’t in.”

Mark suggests:

• Don’t leave a pile of beautifully wrapped presents under the tree in full view of passers-by – however attractive the pile looks it’s an open invitation. • Close your curtains once you put the lights on so people can’t see in. But don’t leave them closed during the day or burglars will know you’re hiding something. • Don’t leave lights on timers and curtains open. As soon as the lights come on everyone can see into your house. • When ordering gifts for delivery think about when and where they’ll be delivered. If you ask for a delivery to work while also giving your home address, you’re advertising the fact you’re out during the day. • Finished your Christmas shopping? Never put the gift receipts in the dustbin. Not only are they gold dust for conmen, they tell a thief exactly what they’d find inside your home. • Recycling bins tend to be overflowing by lunchtime on Christmas Day. Keep any excess waste inside until bin day, especially boxes emblazoned with their former contents which tell burglars just what’s new in your home.

If you’re going away over Christmas or New Year don’t forget a few simple rules:

• Leave a bathroom light on – it’s the one light in the house that could explain why you’re not answering the door. “People leave a living room light on but if you were in the living room you’d answer a knock at the door,” said Mark. “A burglar knows that and may knock to check. ” • Don’t leave all your new presents on display. “Equally removing a plasma tv, DVD or stereo and leaving an obvious space can be seen as a green light to a burglar,” said Mark. • Mark valuable items with your postcode and house number using a UV pen – as soon as you receive them. • Ensure all doors and windows are locked. • If possible, leave a car on the drive – or offer the space to neighbours’ visitors. It’s not foolproof but it’s a deterrent.

“It might seem like a long list of things to remember but most of it is common sense,” said Mark. “And if you action them all you’ll be able to enjoy Christmas.”

The BusinessWatch Group, named Small Business of the Year at the Peterborough Evening Telegraph Business Awards, offers a unique monitoring and response package, as well as a keyholding service, to customers.

“Our response packages give our customers complete peace of mind knowing that should the worst happen one of our security officers will be on site within minutes and won’t leave until the property has been secured and the alarm reset,” said Mark.

The BusinessWatch Group is based in Orton Southgate and specialises in telecommunications, domestic and commercial intruder and fire alarm systems, and guarding.