Reduce the risk of a break in whilst you are away

Returning home to find your property ransacked is every holidaymaker's nightmare. There are a number of things that you can do before travelling to reduce the chances of your holiday being ruined by events back home:

1. Make your home lived in - purchase timers for lights and the radio and persuade a friend or neighbour to collect your mail, move your dustbin and move things around a bit on a daily basis.
2. Mow the lawn (or rake the leaves) before you go and cancel milk and newspaper deliveries.
3. Avoid putting your home address on luggage when you're travelling or leaving answer phone messages saying you are away.
4. Photograph any valuables, make sure you have up to date insurance.
5. Don't leave valuables where people can see them (put your TV in the cupboard under the stairs).
6. Lock tools in the shed. Any ladders need to be secured to something with a heavy duty padlock or chain.
7. If you have a burglar alarm, make sure it is visible and that the sensors are set.
8. Lock all doors (including internal ones with locks) and windows. Do not leave spare keys under doormats or elsewhere outdoors.
9. Mark valuable items with your postcode and house number using UV pen (available from DIY shops). If your property is stolen this will help the police identify it.
10. Consider using a 'key holding company'. keyholding.com offers a 'house check' service that helps ward off potential intruders by giving your home a 'lived in' look. A warden will visit your property, conduct security checks, switch lights on and off, clear away post, if required feed pets and water plants. They can also act as keyholder for your alarm system and provide emergency response if the alarm is activated. The cost is £6 a month to become a member, plus a one off payment of £24 to register your keys with the company. Each 'house check' costs £12.
11. Hire a house sitter. housesitters.co.uk, home-and-pets.co.uk and homesitters.co.uk will organise somebody to move into your home and care for your property and animals while you are away. Clients can meet prospective guardians beforehand and the service can lower your house insurance premium. Expect to pay a registration fee of around £30 plus fees of £30 a day, a £7.50 a day food allowance and £1.50 - £2.50 for each cat or dog.