Christmas Home Security
Last Updated: 11th November 2024
It’s the most wonderful time of year. With festive feelings, holiday celebrations and lights shining, it’s easy to forget that whilst this time of year hold much enjoyment it can also pose a risk to your home security.
According to the Office for National Statistics (2023) (ONS), nearly 1 in 100 homes were victims of domestic burglary in 2023 with around 40% of these happening with the winter months (November – January). It’s generally accepted that the spike that’s seen comes down to the fact that we have darker evenings; making it easier to go unseen, burglars know that houses are likely to be filled with expensive new presents, and that people often leave their homes for long periods of time to visit relatives. This is why it’s important, more so than ever, that you take some extra precautions to keep your home safe!
Secure Your Home This Christmas
1. Keep Gifts Out of Sight
Everyone loves to see a tree filled with presents underneath, but this can pose a tempting opportunity to opportunistic burglars. Consider relocating your tree away from windows and doors (especially those that face the street) to keep away unwanted attention.
ADT identified the top most stolen items in a burglary are:
- Money (wallet, purse, card) 40%
- Jewellery & watches 32%
- Computers 23%
- Electrical goods (& cameras) 19%
- Household items 14%
2. Secure Any Christmas Lights
Christmas lights are a staple on any UK home, with many of use passing the plug through partially open windows or doors. Considering 70% of burglars enter through a door, and 30% through a window (Office of National Statistics) – this is not best practice.
Consider instead setting up an outdoor electrical socket or getting solar powered lights so that you can keep your doors shut tightly and your windows secured.
3. Be Careful on Social Media
With 82.8% of the UK population on social media (Statista) it’s common for us all to share what presents we’ve received and if we might be taking a holiday over the festive season, however it’s wise to exercise caution when it comes to sharing too much on social media.
You can inadvertently advertise to countless strangers that your home will be empty for a prolonged period of time or that you’ve just received the latest expensive games console.
Expert Tip: Limit what you put on social media or delay your vacation posts until after you are back. Better yet, consider making your profile private to all but your close friends and family.
4. Lock Doors and Windows
Whilst this might seem silly to most, a rising concern for home security is ‘walk -in’ burglaries. This is when someone enters your home through an unlocked window or door, and with 60% of participants in a Crimestoppers survey admitting to never locking a downstairs window, and a further 1 in 5 saying that don’t even lock the back door when leaving their house – it’s more of an issue than you think!
You should always lock doors and windows, especially when leaving the house, to ensure your home is protected. If you don’t and you are the unfortunate victim of burglary you could invalidate your home insurance policy.
Expert Tip: If your door is difficult to lock or operate then it could effect the overall security it’s offering, consider calling out your local locksmith or troubleshooting yourself with our uPVC problem guides.
5. Look at Home, Even If You’re Not
We all know about setting lights on timers, and unfortunately burglars do too. Burglars tend to keep up to date with the latest tactics that people are using to make their homes less of a target, and in most cases, it does tend to work as burglars don’t want to risk it. However, there are a few other things you can do to make it look like someone is home.
- Use the Royal Mail Keepsafe service to hold your post for up to 100 days if you are going to be away for the holidays
- Ask a neighbour to park in your driveway sporadically to make it look like someone is coming and going
- Consider installing a dusk-til-dawn exterior light
FREE Home Security Check
Keytek® Locksmiths are dedicated to ensuring that all homes across the UK are secured, that’s why with every job we complete we offer a free home security check and offer tailored security solutions that will help keep you safe.
Our local locksmiths offer a range of different services, including:
- Emergency responses (lock outs, broken locks)
- Lock changes and upgrading
- Lost keys
- Moving home services
- Emergency boarding up
- Safe opening and repair
- Car key replacements
Kim Freeman
Kim is Keytek’s longest-serving security blogger, with nearly a decade of hands-on experience in the security industry. Over the past 9 years, she has built trusted relationships with locksmiths and security professionals across the UK, giving her exclusive insight into the latest trends, technologies, and best practices in home security.
From traditional burglary prevention methods to cutting-edge smart home solutions, Kim covers it all. As part of her role, she regularly reviews the newest home security gadgets on the market—including smart doorbells, security cameras, and more—bringing readers honest, practical advice on how to protect their homes.
Kim’s passion for security was sparked during her time at the University of Chester, where she learned first-hand how vulnerable student housing can be to break-ins. That early experience inspired a lifelong interest in home protection, eventually leading her to join the team at Keytek.
Today, Kim combines her deep industry knowledge with a love for writing to deliver helpful, accessible content for homeowners across the UK. You can read all of her expert advice and top security tips at Keytek.co.uk, where she shares everything from seasonal safety guides to reviews of the best security products on the market.
