Staying safe this festive season

With the festive season upon us and many taking a break over the fast-approaching holiday period, the Australian Security Industry Association Limited (ASIAL) has provided some helpful tips for securing your business and home.

“With a few simple measures, you make your home [or business] less attractive to burglars and ensure you can have peace of mind over the holiday period,” ASIAL CEO Bryan de Caires said.

“After the challenges of the past year, Australians deserve a break.”

While many will be starting to unwind and relax, ASIAL is reminding us that the holiday period isn’t a time to let our guard down.

Many break-ins are opportunistic, says ASIAL, an open window or door, and no visible sign that someone is on the premises can be all it takes to become a victim.

To assist here ASIAL has provided 12 practical security tips to help secure your business and home.

12 security tips for the festive season

1. If you’re going away or closing your business for a few days ask a trusted neighbour or business owner to keep an eye on your premises and report suspicious behaviour to the police; consider contacting your alarm monitoring centre.
2. Don’t look like you’re away. If it’s obvious that nobody is on the premises, this can encourage opportunistic thieves to strike. Put your mail on hold or have it collected; for business operators: advise suppliers not to deliver during your shutdown period.
3. Make access as difficult as possible. Remove items from outside and around the premises that may be used as makeshift ladders; ensure all building windows, doors and other access points are secure; keep valuables out of sight; install motion-sensor lights.
4. Maintain your alarm system. Make sure your alarm system is maintained and in good working order by a licenced security professional.
5. Review your security measures. Consider getting a licensed security professional to review your security measures and provide you with additional ones.
6. Be careful with spare keys. Leave keys with a trusted person or invest in a keyless entry-locking system.
7. Keep valuables out of sight and out of reach.
8. Dispose of packaging carefully. Think about how you dispose of packaging as it can signal would-be thieves tat there are goods worth stealing.
9. Considering re-directing your mail so that your mailbox isn’t overflowing or have it collected.
10. Lock your doors and windows. It may sound obvious, but you’d be surprised how many people fail to lock their doors and windows before going out, says ASIAL.
11. Be careful on social media. Change your security settings to private; don’t advertise that you’re going away; consider sharing your holiday photos when you return; disable location services.
12. Christmas lights. Make sure you don’t run Christmas light power cables through a window or door for power as a small opening here is all a burglar needs to enter your premises.

For more information, visit: asial.com.au.