The summer is well upon us and many of us are making the most of the heat and opening windows and doors to let the air in. It is easy to start to become complacent over the summer months as if you have got to pop out for 20 minutes or so, it can be a bit of a hassle shutting and locking all the doors and windows.

If you have a holiday planned, don’t forget to put aside some time to check that your home is secure. Make sure that all windows and doors are locked and that any valuables are out of site. You may want to ask someone to come into the house every day or so and even set a timer to turn lights on and off randomly. If you have a house alarm then make sure that you set it and your neighbours have contact details for you should it go off and they need to notify you.

One easy way to tell if someone isn’t home is to just notice the pile of newspapers on the front lawn or the overflow of mail pouring from the mailbox. Redirecting your mail service or having a trusted neighbour pick up your mail if you’re going to be gone awhile is a great way to deter thieves.