The summer holidays are all about fun, sun, and switching off, and the last thing you want to be worrying about whilst you’re sitting in the departures lounge is your home security. Unfortunately, with so many Brits jetting off abroad at the same time, this six-week block becomes prime time for burglars and break-ins.
Don’t let your home become the target of a summertime security breach. With a good few weeks left until your departure date, there’s plenty of time to get your home security system ready with all the must-have equipment for a safe summer.
What Should a Home Security System Include?
Is your burglar alarm overdue for an inspection? Maybe your porch camera is in need of an upgrade? Or perhaps you’re still relying on your neighbour to keep an eye on your home?
Don’t let your home remain an easy target for one minute longer. Whether you have a few security measures dotted around your property, or none at all, here’s how you can integrate the right features into a connected home security system.
CCTV
This summer, countless families across the UK will be leaving their homes under the watchful eye of a fully integrated CCTV network that covers all access points, blind spots, and vulnerable areas of the home. Do you number amongst them?
If not, now is the time to invest in several high-resolution and night-vision cameras to provide your property with the 24/7 protection it deserves. These cameras monitor your home from the second you leave to the moment you get back, and gather timestamped footage of any security threats that occur whilst you are gone. This streamlines evidence collection in the event of a break-in attempt, but most homeowners find that even just the sight of a visible CCTV camera is enough to deter intruders from targeting their property.
This real-time monitoring is invaluable should a theft occur whilst you are away, but it will be hard to enjoy your holidays if you are constantly worrying about the security of your home. With a remote CCTV monitoring system, you can access the live feeds from your cameras any time, from anywhere in the world, and receive instant alerts directly to your phone if the sensors on any of the cameras are triggered. No more nagging worries, ruined sleep, or constant calls to neighbours – all your anxieties will be relieved in just a few minutes, with just a few taps!
Burglar Alarms
No home should be left unoccupied for the summer without a burglar alarm system standing guard. Burglar alarms detect any unauthorised entry into your property or within the designated perimeter, and sound the alarm to both alert you to the breach and send the intruders packing.
Unfortunately, if you are several hundred miles away at that exact moment then there’s not a lot you would be able to do. This is when a remote burglar alarm monitoring system becomes essential. An integrated system keeps you in control of your security from anywhere in the world by sending an immediate alert to your phone whenever an alarm is triggered and allowing you to:
- Check the CCTV footage immediately.
- Verify the intrusion attempt.
- Alert a neighbour or trusted keyholder.
- And contact the relevant authorities.
All without leaving your sunlounger! Or, for even more peace of mind, why not opt for a professionally monitored system that sends the alerts to a 24/7 team, as well as to your personal device? Now you and your family can really kick back, relax, and let the experts handle your home security whilst you’re away.
Access Control System
Whilst it’s tempting to lock all your doors, set the alarm, and check your camera feed every few hours, there may still be occasions when access to your property is required whilst you are not there.
This may be a friend coming to water the plants, your regular cleaner completing the weekly clean, or a delivery driver dropping off an important order. Whilst would-be intruders must be met with a formidable physical barrier, these parties should be able to enter the property without tripping the alarm or creating opportunities for unauthorised access, and an automated gate system provides this line of defence.
Automated gates cannot be accidentally left open or deliberately forced, and remain closed against all attempts to do so until opened by an access code or key fob. Many options also come with an intercom system, which means that you are able to view visitors in real time before granting them access. This visit is then recorded, creating a detailed log of who has entered and left the property, before the gate automatically closes behind them.
Summer Security Checklist
There are a number of extra steps to take between now and the first day of your holiday to leave your property is as protected as possible this summer:
- Assign an Emergency Contact: Make sure the people on your street know that you will be away, and that at least one household has your contact information. Perhaps someone could even park their car in your driveway to make it look like you are home.
- Don’t Leave The Light On: A house without any lights on at night is visibly unoccupied, but so is one that has the landing light on for two weeks on end. Instead of leaving a light on whilst you are away, opt for timed lights that turn on and off at different times.
- Schedule Deliveries: An overflowing letterbox or porch full of parcels is an obvious sign that no one is home, so arrange to have a trusted neighbour collect them and send any holiday orders to their house instead.
- Tidy The Garden: An untidy garden isn’t just an unoccupied garden. Overgrown branches can obscure the cameras or damage the alarm’s casing, so clear the garden and check your equipment before you leave.
- Post Privately: No matter how excited you are for your holiday, try to avoid posting real-time updates on social media. This broadcasts the fact that you, and your entire family, are away from home for an extended period, so save your holiday snaps until after you’ve returned.
And finally, arrange a security system audit from First Contact Fire and Security. Their teams will repair, maintain, and upgrade your existing equipment, and identify any gaps in your home security infrastructure, even if they didn’t install the initial system!