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The safest way to leave for a holiday is to remove easy opportunities: lock every entry point, hide valuables and keys, avoid announcing your absence, make the property look cared for, and arrange a trusted person to keep an eye on it. Police guidance in the UK, Australia and New Zealand repeatedly focuses on those basics.
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1. Leaving a door unlocked
An unlocked front, back or side door removes the most basic barrier to entry. Police.uk advises closing and locking doors whenever you leave, including for only a few minutes, and recommends double-locking where that is appropriate for the door and local practice.
Before departure, walk around the property and physically test each external door. Use the locks and bolts already fitted, and check that a door has fully latched rather than merely appearing closed. “Double-locking” is not a universal hardware term: follow the instructions for your lock and any local insurance or building requirements instead of forcing a mechanism that was not designed for it.
2. Leaving windows open or unlocked
Open or unsecured windows create another direct access route and can also signal that the house was left in a hurry. Police.uk’s checklist says to close and lock all windows even when going out briefly.
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3. Keeping valuables in sight
Visible phones, laptops, jewellery, cash, collectibles and other expensive items can attract attention through a window. Police.uk’s burglary guidance describes visible valuables as an opportunity for an opportunist.
Move valuable items away from windows and other sightlines before you leave. Close blinds or curtains in a way that does not advertise a display, but avoid creating an unusual permanent blackout if the home normally looks occupied. Also break down boxes for expensive purchases and place them inside your recycling or waste container rather than leaving branded packaging outside where it can reveal what is in the house.
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4. Leaving keys within reach of an opening
A key on a hall table beside a letterbox, cat flap or low window may be reachable from outside. The same applies to car keys left close to a door or window. Police advice is to keep keys, including vehicle keys, away from openings and accessible areas.
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5. Announcing your travel plans publicly
A public post that says when you are flying, where you are staying or how long you will be gone can reveal the period when nobody is home. Police.uk recommends limiting the audience for holiday posts, and Victoria Police suggests waiting until you return before uploading holiday photographs.
Review the audience settings on social accounts, group chats and shared calendars before departure. Ask friends and family not to tag your empty home or publish your itinerary while you are away. You can still share photographs privately during the trip; the risk-reduction step is to avoid broadcasting an exact absence to people you do not know or trust.
6. Letting mail, newspapers and deliveries accumulate
A stuffed letterbox, newspapers on the path and parcels left in view make an absence obvious. Police.uk and Victoria Police recommend asking a trusted neighbour to collect items, diverting mail where available or stopping newspaper delivery.
Cancel or pause regular deliveries, redirect mail if that service is practical, and give one reliable person instructions for collecting anything that still arrives. Ask them to move parcels out of sight rather than merely placing them behind the front door, and make sure they know how to contact you if they notice damage, an unfamiliar vehicle or another problem.
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7. Leaving the home obviously dark and unattended
A house that is continuously dark at night can look empty, especially when neighbouring homes have normal evening activity. Police.uk and Avon and Somerset Police suggest timed lights as one way to create a modest occupancy cue.
A plug-in lamp timer can switch a lamp on and off at set times; Police.uk also mentions using a timer for a radio at night, while Avon and Somerset Police specifically recommends timer plugs with lamps. Set schedules that resemble your household’s normal routine and test them before travelling. Timed lighting is optional and is not a substitute for locked doors, secured windows, an alarm or a neighbour’s oversight. Do not use a timer on equipment that is not rated for unattended operation.
8. Failing to set an existing burglar alarm
An alarm that is installed but left unset provides no benefit when the property is empty. Police.uk tells residents to set their burglar alarm before leaving.
Use the system’s normal “away” or full-set mode, check that every intended sensor is closed, and allow the exit delay to finish before departing. If your alarm has a monitoring service, confirm that contact details and keyholder information are current. Do not add a new alarm at the last minute without learning how it behaves; a false alarm, forgotten code or uncontactable keyholder can create problems while you are abroad.
9. Leaving sheds and garages unsecured
Outbuildings are often treated as secondary, yet they may contain tools, ladders or access to the main house. Official guidance identifies unsecured sheds and garages as vulnerabilities and notes that their contents can help someone force an entry.
Close and lock shed, garage and side-gate doors, not just the main house. Check windows on those structures and remove spare keys from obvious hooks or ledges. If a garage connects to the home, treat its internal door as an external security boundary: close it, lock it and do not rely only on the vehicle’s remote control or a closed garage door.
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10. Leaving tools, ladders or outdoor valuables accessible
Tools and ladders can assist an intruder, while bicycles, surfboards, garden equipment and other expensive outdoor items can be stolen without entering the house. Victoria Police advises securing tools and equipment, and New Zealand Police gives a holiday-home example of prized outdoor items being forgotten on a deck overnight.
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11. Leaving without any neighbour or property check
No person checking the property means a small problem can remain visible for days: a broken window, overflowing mail, a tripped alarm or a delivery on the doorstep. Police.uk recommends asking a trusted neighbour or participating in a local watch scheme.
Choose someone dependable, agree how often they will look in, and provide an emergency contact method. Tell them where the water stopcock, electrical consumer unit and alarm instructions are if they may need to respond to damage. Give only the access and information they need, and cancel the arrangement when you return so responsibility is clear.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How the precautions fit together
Not every measure does the same job. Entry-point security tries to prevent access; concealment removes visual prompts; occupancy cues make absence less obvious; oversight provides a human response when something changes. Layering these roles is more sensible than expecting one device to protect an empty house.
| Measure | Primary role | Important limitation |
|---|---|---|
| Locked doors, windows and outbuildings | Secures physical entry points | Must be used correctly every time; lock types and double-locking practices vary by location |
| Hidden valuables and keys | Reduces visible rewards and reachable access | Does not secure an unlocked door or window |
| Limited public travel information | Reduces the amount of absence information shared | Cannot control what other people post or tag |
| Mail collection and neighbour checks | Removes signs of neglect and provides human oversight | Depends on a trusted person being available |
| Plug-in lamp timer | Creates a modest evening occupancy cue | Requires safe installation and a schedule; it is not a physical barrier |
| Existing alarm | Alerts occupants or a monitoring contact to an activation | Only helps when correctly set, maintained and supported by a workable response plan |
| Security camera or outdoor lighting | Can support observation or visibility around the property | Placement, power, connectivity, privacy rules and local requirements affect usefulness |
What to do the day before departure
Use the final day to test rather than improvise. Operate every lock, confirm windows are fully closed, put away outdoor equipment and decide exactly who will collect mail. Set the alarm once the house is ready, then avoid leaving doors open while loading luggage. If a timer, camera, light or alarm depends on electricity or an internet connection, verify its normal operation before you leave and consider what happens if that service fails.
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Keep instructions for a neighbour concise: your contact details, the dates of the visit, the location of any required key, and the people they should call in an emergency. Do not publish those details in a public post or leave them visible beside the entrance.
Local differences and holiday-home considerations
Advice from the UK, Victoria and New South Wales in Australia, and New Zealand overlaps, but hardware terminology and requirements differ. “Double-lock” may mean different things on different doors; alarm fitting, camera placement, privacy obligations and insurance conditions can also be local. Use the lock manufacturer’s instructions and your local police or council guidance when a recommendation depends on a particular dwelling or standard.
New Zealand Police’s comments about a bach concern a holiday home, where owners may visit infrequently and outdoor recreation gear is commonly left on decks. A primary residence has different routines, but the underlying lesson is the same: secure the building and do not leave valuable, portable items exposed.
What the official guidance does not establish
The cited police pages provide prevention advice and qualitative descriptions of opportunistic behaviour. They do not provide a controlled comparison of locks, cameras, alarms or timers, and they do not establish a holiday-season burglary rate or a guaranteed percentage reduction from any step. Treat every measure as opportunity reduction, not proof that a burglary cannot happen.
Police.uk sums up the basic standard in its checklist: “close and lock all your doors and windows, even if you’re only going out for a few minutes.” Applying that rule consistently, then adding concealment, sensible occupancy cues and trusted oversight, addresses the avoidable lapses identified across the guidance.
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