 Holiday Hints
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In Victoria over
40,000 homes a year are broken into. Many burglaries occur while
owners are away on holidays. Reduce the risk of break-ins by
observing these simple precautions and also by giving your home a
lived in look when you are away.
The list is compiled from recommendations of the Crime Prevention
Support Services of Victoria Police and ART Security |
Make sure to -
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Install a monitored security system |
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Prominently display window stickers |
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Install and secure deadlocks on external doors, windows, gates and sheds |
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Lock all manholes that are externally accessible |
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Ensure your
authorised contact list is adequate and the phone numbers are
correct - include neighbours, relatives, friends, business
associates and/or a patrol service |
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Ensure your authorised contacts are
educated on how to use your system, responsible and available |
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Engrave/mark valuable property with an identifiable number such as a
driver’s licence preceded by V for Victoria |
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Clear shrubs/trees which block the visibility of your premises from the
street thereby allowing would be intruders privacy to enter |
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Install automatic external sensor lights and timing devices for
internal/external lights and electrical appliances, such as radios
and televisions, to simulate your living pattern |
As your holiday approaches -
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Inform the monitoring centre of your travel plans - leave
a destination contact number |
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Let
your neighbours/relatives know your holiday arrangements - ask them
to observe your premises carefully during your absence |
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Ask a responsible person to: |
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Park a car in your driveway occasionally |
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have your mail, newspapers and other |
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deliveries collected and stored, or redirected |
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Advise local police and neighbourhood
watch area coordinator of your absence |
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Have the lawn mown and the garden watered regularly |
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Arrange
for payment of essential utilities bills such as electricity and gas |
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Give keys to your authorised contacts, register keys with
ART and/or have ART issue them to a patrol for internal responses |
Just before you go -
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Test your security system for communication and have it assessed for
premises cover and functionality |
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Check detectors for spiders, reapply surface spray to surrounding
areas, and replace batteries |
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Disconnect
electrical supply on radio controlled or electronic garage
doors/gates and engage manual locks |
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Don’t leave keys concealed
inside/outside the premises |
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Turn
down the volume of your telephone the day you leave |
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Activate your timing devices for
internal/external lights and electrical appliances to simulate your living pattern or activate them randomly |
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Ensure all valuables are not visible from outside your premises,
particularly computers/laptops |
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Lock away items which assist intruders to break in - ladders/garden tools |
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Secure cars left at home and leave keys with a responsible person |
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Do not publicise your unattended house to strangers - use a business
address at such places as hotels, have a relative drive you to the
airport |
then Enjoy your holiday . . . .
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