Home Security Hacks Everyone Should Know

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Mention the word ‘burglars,’ and my mind jumps straight to scenes from the 90’s hit movie Home Alone. But of course there is nothing funny about someone trying to break into your home. A home invasion can leave you with psychological and emotional scars, in addition to financial loss and higher insurance premiums. Fortunately there are much easier and more effective ways of securing your home from unwelcome visitors than setting a tarantula on them, preparing paint tin traps, or setting up a trip wire – as fun as they may sound!

This year, Coles Insurance is getting behind The Block contestants (whose home renovations thankfully don’t involve exploding toilets like Kevin McCallister’s did!)

Coles Insurance have put together this clever infographic of simple tips and tricks we can all implement to secure our homes and keep our home insurance premiums to a minimum.

Keep valuables hidden

Leaving expensive/valuable items in full view can make your home a target for opportunistic thieves.

• Consider investing in a heavy home safe (that weights too much to be moved) to keep your valuables locked-up safely.
• Have you got expensive tools or equipment stored in your garage? Keep your garage door closed so that passers-by can’t see what’s inside.
• Don’t keep large amounts of cash at home.

Give the appearance that you’re home even when you’re away

For a burglar, an unoccupied house is much more attractive than an occupied one. Make provisions so that even when you’re not home, it isn’t obvious.

• Ask a neighbour to collect your mail for you. Nothing says ‘nobody’s home’ like an overflowing mailbox.
• Similarly, ask a friend or neighbour to put your rubbish bins out for you – and put some rubbish in them while you’re away.
• If your neighbour normally has a couple of cars in their driveway, you could ask if they’d like to park one in yours while you’re away.
• If you’re just going out for an evening, leave a light on inside the house to make it seem like somebody is home.
• If you’re going to be away from home for a bit longer, timers are a fantastic resource – they can be set up to turn lights on and off at certain times.

Don’t publically share information about your home being empty

Whether it’s a note on your front door saying ‘Back Soon!’ or a photo of you and your family boarding a flight posted on Facebook, sharing information that says ‘my home is empty’ is never a great idea.

Never leave keys under the doormat or close to the door

This one is pretty self-explanatory. Your doormat, and the underneath of that pot plant near the front door are not nearly as good hiding places as you may think.

Make your entrances visible

• I love motion-sensor floodlights! Burglars however, do not. The last thing they want when trying to access someone’s home is to have a giant beam of light shone directly on them!

• Similarly, cutting back bushes and trees around the entrance to your home limits the hiding spots a burglar has to lurk behind.

Secure your car

Don’t leave your car keys in the ignition – even if it is parked in your garage.

Most people will also keep their house keys on the same key fob as their car keys, allowing a burglar to gain access to the home with ease. This why it’s not recommended to have your personal address written on your key tags either.

Coles Insurance supporting The Block

This year, Coles Insurance is proudly backing The Block. And with the help of Keith and Dan, the Blockheads are in safe hands.

Each couple will Block through three run down apartments and turn them into one beautiful family home.

Once finished, the new apartment will be naturally rendered, with new windows, a new roof line, new façade treatments, green elements, huge private terraces and even a garden.

We can’t wait to see the final product! Who do you think will take out the $100,000 prize?

For more information on home insurance visit www.colesinsurance.com.au

This post is brought to you by Coles Insurance. Coles Car and Home Insurance policies are issued by WFI Insurance Limited AFSL 241461.