Tips to keep your home safe while you're away

Queenslanders are being warned to guard against theft from their homes, particularly while away on holidays.

Queensland Police Acting Inspector Dallas Kowald urged the community to be vigilant.

“Make a conscious effort to lock doors and windows prior to leaving and ensure you remove valuables, such as spare keys for any vehicles which may be kept at the property, from sight,” Acting Inspector Kowald said.

“Employing simple steps can reduce the chance of coming home to any unwanted surprises.”

RACQ Group Executive Insurance Trent Sayers said the insurer had received more than 3,400 claims for theft from homes in Queensland since November 2019, worth more than $13 million.

“Regions with the highest frequency of home break-ins include inner Brisbane (Hamilton, West End and Norman Park), south Brisbane, Cairns, Logan and Townsville,” Mr Sayers said.

“While the pandemic resulted in a drop in break-ins, as people plan to head away over the summer, now is not the time for complacency when it comes to securing our properties.”

Follow these 10 tips to help keep your home secure

1. Lock everything

It’s essential to lock your home every time you leave the house, but even more important when you’re away for an extended period. Remember to go around your home the week before and make sure all your windows, doors and locks are working properly.

2. Check the mail and rubbish

Nothing says a home is empty like an overflowing mailbox or bins left out too long. Organise with a neighbour, family or friends for someone to come by and collect your mail regularly and bring your bins in. This will give the illusion someone is home.

3. Signs of life

Leave a set of keys with a trusted neighbour, friend or family member and have them go inside your home and park their car in the driveway to maintain appearances.

4. Indoor activity

If you don’t have anybody who can come by your home or want an extra level of protection, set up timers to promote indoor activity. You can put lamps, lights, radios and TVs on timers to make your house look lived in. If you do this, make sure people cannot see an empty room through the windows.

5. Security system 

Invest in a security or camera system for that extra peace of mind while you’re away. The best deterrent to many thieves is a hi-tech security system or a dog. Depending on your level of home security, you may also be eligible for a Home and Contents Insurance discount.

6. Let there be light

Put some of your inside lights on a timer to automatically come on when it gets dark to make it look like there is someone home. You can also set up a range of motion sensor lights around the exterior of your property to help keep any unwanted visitors.

7. Pay your bills

Remember to pay your bills before you leave or set up a direct debit. You don’t want your electricity to be cut, rendering your home alarm, motion lights and indoor activity systems useless.

8. Be careful what you put on social media

While it may be fun to show people on social media the great time you’re having on holiday. Opportune thieves may use this information to target your property after seeing that you’re not home.

9. Clean out your fridge

While it won’t stop a burglary, there is nothing worse than coming home to a foul odour from rotten food stinking out your home.

10. Turn the water supply off

Nobody wants to come home to a house that has been flooded due to a burst pipe or hose. Remember to call a professional plumber to install and service your hoses to ensure your home is safe.

Be prepared with RACQ Home and Contents Insurance

The information in this article has been prepared for general information purposes only.. Any advice contained in the document is general advice, not intended as legal advice or professional advice and does not take into account any person’s particular circumstances. Before acting on anything based on this advice you should consider its appropriateness to you, having regard to your objectives and needs.