We all deserve to unwind on a holiday, whether it’s a short city break or a week in the sun. But before you switch into holiday mode completely, it’s worth taking a little time to make sure your home is safe, secure, and ready to be left unattended.
Almost 50% of burglaries in the UK happen when there is nobody at home (Cladco Profiles, 2025). With this in mind we’ve provided our top tips on preventing opportunistic burglars spotting your home as a target.
Give Your Home the “Lived-In” Look
Making your home look occupied whilst you’re away is important to make it less of a target. Here are some simple steps you can follow:
Manage deliveries and post
Pause any subscriptions and refrain from ordering anything that might turn up whilst you are away. Particularly if you are away for a longer time, parcels accumulating on your doorstep make it obvious that no one is home (and provides an additional opportunity for a thief).
If you can’t avoid having a parcel delivered whilst you are away, ask a trusted neighbour or family member to come over and collect your post, looking after it until you return.
Exterior appearance
Before going away, try to spend some time to ensure your home looks well maintained and lived in. Simply cutting your grass and sweeping any pathways or drives show that the house is occupied and cared for.
Home and pet sitters
It’s becoming more common to have someone temporarily move into your home while you’re away – after all, your home can function as its own holiday spot for friends or family that don’t live nearby. This is particularly advantageous if you have a pet, as a home/pet sitter can keep your pet in its familiar environment and maintain a presence in your home.
Set automatic timers for lights
If you’re willing to invest in automatic timers, then having lights turn on in the evenings creates an illusion that someone is home. This makes your home significantly less appealing to burglars.
Double-Check Doors, Windows and Outdoor Areas
Before you leave, give your home a quick security sweep:
- Make sure all doors and windows are locked, including upstairs and sheds or garages.
- If you have them, set your alarms and/or security systems.
- Secure any tools inside your home instead of leaving them in your garden.
- Similarly, if you have space for it indoors then put away anything valuable that is usually kept outside (such as bikes, garden furniture and BBQs).
This final walk-around only takes a few minutes but offers a lot of peace of mind.
Keep Valuables Out of Sight
A tidy-up before you leave can make your home look far less appealing to opportunistic thieves.
Put any high-value items, such as laptops and jewellery, out of sight. This means taking these items and storing them away from windows – preferably putting them in cupboards or other hiding spots.
Avoid leaving keys near doors or windows. If you have a spare key do not put it in common hiding spots like under a welcome mat – this isn’t only an opportunity for burglars, but it can also invalidate insurance claims.
Consider Investing in Home Security Measures
Having extra security measures, such as a house alarm, smart doorbell or cameras are excellent deterrents. In particular, visible cameras make it less likely for a burglar to target your home in the first place.
Additionally, installing sensor activated security lights in poorly lit areas around your house is a sensible idea. Intruders will likely be discouraged from attempting to break in if the area suddenly becomes well-lit and visible.
If unfortunately these measures weren’t enough to deter burglars entirely, these devices can still increase the likelihood that your neighbours will be alerted and have an opportunity to contact the police. Cameras and smart doorbells can also provide key evidence in cases where a home was targeted.
Keep Your Plans to Yourself
It can be tempting to post about your holiday adventures on social media, but doing so without the correct privacy settings can expose your plans to the wrong people. Sharing pictures whilst you are still away signals that your home is unoccupied. It is recommended to wait until you are back home to update your socials with the memories you have made.
If you live in a neighbourhood watch area or have a trustworthy neighbour, it can be beneficial to let them know you are going away. This means they can keep an eye out for any suspicious behaviour around your home. They also might be happy to do a few jobs like water your plants and parking a spare car on your drive, to help maintain an illusion that somebody is home.
A little preparation goes a long way in protecting your home – letting you switch off and enjoy your break without worry. From simple security steps to making your home look lived-in, these actions can make all the difference.
