During the summer months, crime rates across Australia are actually higher than the yearly average. This is mainly because people are out and about more as the weather warms up, and with families busy on weekends across December to February, this also happens to be a time that’s rife with burglaries, for both residential and commercial properties.
So how can we reduce our risks of falling victim to a home invasion or targeted burglary or break-in? Below, we’ll explore ways in which you can stay crime-conscious this summer and reduce the chances of your house being burgled and ways to minimise the impact if it is.
Preparing for the worst
Home and contents insurance
Sometimes, a healthy amount of fear is necessary to help us plan ahead. Basically, if you’ve got a contingency plan in place for the worst possible outcomes, you can provide your family with added peace of mind.
For starters, acquiring home and contents insurance will provide a fantastic fallback in the case of a home burglary. You won’t have to worry about the financial burden that theft can cause if you have strong insurance by your side. Granted there is an emotional impact to being burgled, but at least you won’t be left to recoup the financial losses on your own.
Secure your valuables
The key thing to remember about burglaries is that they start with an opportunity for the thief. They see something valuable, notice that a house doesn’t have a car in the driveway or they know you’re going on holiday. So if somebody does decide to ‘scope’ your house out, try to make sure that anything of value is firmly out of sight.
And we’re not just talking about jewellery or car key racks here either. For instance, even a PS5 box might be worthless, but it also means that you just got a PS5. So much like your car keys and jewellery, be sure to also keep all electronic devices, wallets and any other valuables in enclosed storage or even in a safe and away from windows whenever you’re away from home.
Lock doors and windows every time you leave the house
Burglaries can happen in a few minutes. That’s why it’s important to keep your house locked up every time you head out, go to bed, and even during the daytime while you’re at home. Windows, doors, gates, and even sheds need to be secure and locked at all times.
It’s also advisable to update your locks every few years or even in the event that you suspect a security breach. High-performance locks and latches installed on your property may even bring the costs of your home insurance policies down with select insurance providers, so it pays to invest in modern security for your property.
Boost security through your home and garden design
And speaking of modern security, it’s important to keep in mind that thieves look for a number of things when finding their next target. This includes places to hide, discreet areas and signs of an empty house as green flags. But what signs are most likely to dissuade opportunistic trespassers?
Alongside high-performance locks, thieves can also be turned off by manicured garden spaces with heightened visibility, and homes with sunscreen blinds that allow occupants to see outside but make it impossible for passersby to see inside.
Lastly, security cameras, alarms, floodlights, loud dogs and neighbours all work as great deterrences as well. Letting your neighbour know that you’ll be away so they can take your bins out and empty your mail can work like a scarecrow against greedy onlookers.
And remember – thieves can target multiple homes in a neighbourhood, so it’s important to work as a community to combat crime.
What does a burglar look for?
Not all houses are targeted the same, and ideally, you want your house to be the least appealing place to rob in the city. That means a well-lit house on a busy road with cameras and security alarms.
Burglars want places to hide, like shrubs, high fences and long shadows. They also want it to be worth the risk, which means they often look for valuables to steal. If they can see you’ve got a flat-screen TV in your living room or leather couches through the window, this could be a sign that there will be other valuables within the house. If these are out of sight because you’ve closed the blinds, then they’ll look to a place with more solid prospects.
All that said, one of the most common thefts during the summer season is parcel deliveries. To prevent this, have a suitable, private spot for your delivery person to leave packages, and make them aware of it.
What about kids home alone during the school holidays?
During school holidays, kids will often have some time alone at home while their parents are back at work. And kids often don’t have a security focus, leaving their bikes and roller skates out on the lawn, forgetting to lock the door when they go out and other classic kid stuff. Usually, none of these warrant concern, but if there have been burglaries in your area, you’ll want to educate them on a couple of best practices.
Teaching them to close the blinds and lock the doors before going out, or to talk to the neighbours if they see something fishy. And of course, the usual stranger danger awareness, like not opening the door without a parent home always remains important.
Practice Proactive Property Protection
If you live in a high-crime area, you might already be aware of many of these tips, but it’s always worth learning more. For example, the old trick of leaving a radio or light on while you’re away doesn’t work anymore, according to today’s research. Instead, you’ll have to be a bit more strategic and thorough for a strong repellent.
Remember to hide your valuables out of sight, close your blinds, keep your garden tame, educate your children, invest in security cameras and lights and empty your mailbox and move your bins in if you go on holiday. Of course, having a friend or neighbour to check in occasionally still remains one of the best tricks.
Troy Dodds is Parra News' Managing Editor and Breaking News Reporter. He has more than 20 years experience as a journalist, working with some of Australia’s leading media organisations. In 2023, he was named Editor of the Year at the Mumbrella Publish Awards.