{"id":13905,"date":"2023-02-24T15:36:41","date_gmt":"2023-02-24T15:36:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.safe.co.uk\/safezone\/?p=13905"},"modified":"2025-07-02T13:53:47","modified_gmt":"2025-07-02T12:53:47","slug":"how-to-make-it-look-like-youre-at-home","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.safe.co.uk\/safezone\/how-to-make-it-look-like-youre-at-home\/","title":{"rendered":"How To Make It Look Like You&#8217;re At Home"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery aligncenter columns-1 is-cropped\"><ul class=\"blocks-gallery-grid\"><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"450\" height=\"600\" src=\"https:\/\/www.safe.co.uk\/safezone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/will-qdexC1ISxmw-unsplash-450x600.jpg\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"13908\" data-full-url=\"https:\/\/www.safe.co.uk\/safezone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/will-qdexC1ISxmw-unsplash.jpg\" data-link=\"https:\/\/www.safe.co.uk\/safezone\/?attachment_id=13908\" class=\"wp-image-13908\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.safe.co.uk\/safezone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/will-qdexC1ISxmw-unsplash-450x600.jpg 450w, https:\/\/www.safe.co.uk\/safezone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/will-qdexC1ISxmw-unsplash-248x330.jpg 248w, https:\/\/www.safe.co.uk\/safezone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/will-qdexC1ISxmw-unsplash-107x143.jpg 107w, https:\/\/www.safe.co.uk\/safezone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/will-qdexC1ISxmw-unsplash-768x1024.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.safe.co.uk\/safezone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/will-qdexC1ISxmw-unsplash-1152x1536.jpg 1152w, https:\/\/www.safe.co.uk\/safezone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/will-qdexC1ISxmw-unsplash.jpg 1500w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 450px) 100vw, 450px\" \/><\/figure><\/li><\/ul><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Unfortunately, burglaries are on the rise. According to recent data, in 2022 alone there was a property break in every 118 seconds around the UK. The average cost of a domestic burglary to the victim is around \u00a34,120*, including the cost of items stolen and future insurance premiums.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you are planning a trip, or know you are going to be out of your home for a long period, it is important to know it is safe and secure. To help we\u2019ve put together our top five essential tips that can help make your home appear occupied:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3><strong>Lighting and timers<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>One of the best deterrents for burglars is <a href=\"https:\/\/www.safe.co.uk\/Categories\/security-lights\/1.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">security lights<\/a> due to how it startles them as they become easily spotted by anyone looking in their direction. Thieves prefer to conduct their activity in darkness, so ensuring entry points and shaded areas are illuminated will put them off. It\u2019s also important to have lights on inside a property. A dark house appeals to a burglar as it looks vacant or like the occupant is asleep. If on holiday or out for the night, timers should be used so that it looks like someone is home, remember, an intruder doesn\u2019t want to risk a confrontation so they will avoid targeting your property.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3><strong>Cancel all deliveries<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Despite taking other precautions, nothing says \u2018nobody is home\u2019 more than a parcel that is left on the doorstep, so if you\u2019re away for more than just a day, make sure no deliveries will arrive. Even milk that is left outside is a big enough sign for an opportunistic burglar to strike, so make sure you\u2019ve covered all bases and cancelled subscriptions. If you\u2019re on holiday, it can be tempting to make impulse buys, but wait for any purchases until you return home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3><strong>Speak to neighbours<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>For anyone that is away for an extended period of time, it\u2019s best to talk to neighbours so that they can keep your house secure. Asking them to do simple tasks like putting the bins out and removing post from the doorstep or inside the front door will make it look like the property is occupied as normal. Purchase a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.safe.co.uk\/Categories\/outdoor-key-safes\/1.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">key safe<\/a> that neighbours or family members you trust have access to and they can turn lights on, close curtains, and even move small bits around the house so that a burglar inspecting the area won\u2019t suspect the property is empty.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3><strong>Video doorbells are your friend<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Research has shown that <a href=\"https:\/\/www.safe.co.uk\/Categories\/smart-video-doorbells\/1.html?order=R\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">video doorbells<\/a> are a massive deterrent for burglars, with the CCTV aspect that alerts people when someone is nearby proving off-putting. It provides the added protection of keeping tabs on the house and if anyone knocks on the door, the two way talk system allows you to check they are legitimate and raise alarms to family members or neighbours if needed. There is also the opportunity to appear busy within the house by stating you\u2019re unable to answer at that moment in time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3><strong>Avoid social media posts<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Posting on social media is a basic sign that a house is empty. Whether it\u2019s an evening out with friends or a week long family holiday, check-ins to places or pictures away from home advertise to everyone online and provide burglars with glee. Even with other deterrents in place, this will make a thief more confident that they can break in and geo tagging lets them know there is opportune time to take what they want. Instead, save the posts and pictures until the event is finished, that way you still have the memories but have kept your whereabouts hidden.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>We know that one of the biggest fears as a homeowner is that returning to your property after an evening away or family holiday to find it burgled. In taking these steps it should help to ensure your property is protected.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Sources<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>*<a href=\"https:\/\/www.ons.gov.uk\/peoplepopulationandcommunity\/crimeandjustice\/bulletins\/crimeinenglandandwales\/yearendingseptember2022\">https:\/\/www.ons.gov.uk\/peoplepopulationandcommunity\/crimeandjustice\/bulletins\/crimeinenglandandwales\/yearendingseptember2022<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>*<a href=\"https:\/\/www.statista.com\/statistics\/956906\/burglaries-in-england-and-wales\/\">https:\/\/www.statista.com\/statistics\/956906\/burglaries-in-england-and-wales\/<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Unfortunately, burglaries are on the rise. According to recent data, in 2022 alone there was a property break in every 118 seconds around the UK. The average cost of a domestic burglary&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":18,"featured_media":13911,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[280,463,279,448,362],"tags":[],"featured_media_src_url":"https:\/\/www.safe.co.uk\/safezone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/thumb-900x600.jpg","acf":{"website_thumbnail":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.safe.co.uk\/safezone\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13905"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.safe.co.uk\/safezone\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.safe.co.uk\/safezone\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.safe.co.uk\/safezone\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/18"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.safe.co.uk\/safezone\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=13905"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/www.safe.co.uk\/safezone\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13905\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":13910,"href":"https:\/\/www.safe.co.uk\/safezone\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13905\/revisions\/13910"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.safe.co.uk\/safezone\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/13911"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.safe.co.uk\/safezone\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=13905"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.safe.co.uk\/safezone\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=13905"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.safe.co.uk\/safezone\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=13905"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}