As the days get shorter and families settle into the new seasons busy schedule, it’s important to make sure your home stays protected.

Statistics show a rise in burglary rates as autumn sets in; recent home insurance claim analyses link this increase to the shift in daylight hours.

Figures taken from 10 years’ worth of claims data (Aviva) show household theft rises by 5% on average in Autumn, but during events like Halloween and Bonfire night, it jumps significantly, with the week from October 30^th – November 5^th seeing, on average, an increase of 26%.

Whether you’re juggling school runs, planning last minute getaways, or just enjoying more time indoors, a few seasonal safety checks can go a long way. As with all types of crime, prevention is the ultimate goal. 

In this post, we’ll share some simple tips to keep your home—and everything in it—safe and secure throughout the autumn and winter months.

Use Your Alarm – and Keep It Maintained
Always set your intruder alarm when you leave home. Regular servicing (once or twice a year, depending on whether it’s monitored) helps ensure it’s working properly when you need it most.

Light Up Entrances
Install dusk-to-dawn lighting near your front and back doors. A well-lit entrance is a major deterrent to intruders—and it also helps your neighbours keep an eye out.

Secure the Perimeter
The exterior of your home serves as the first line of defence against potential intruders, and its condition speaks volumes about your commitment to security.

Ensure that sturdy gates and fencing surround your property—damaged or missing panels can create vulnerabilities. Tall fences and thorny plants can also help deter unwanted visitors from accessing the rear of your property.

Be mindful of where your bins are stored—when not in use, keep them away from windows and fences where they could be used to climb up and gain access.

Make Your Home Look Occupied
If you’re going away, use timers or smart plugs to control lights, radios, and TVs. Varying the times they go on and off can give the impression that someone is home, especially if you’re away for several days. TV Sims are a useful way of making it look like you’re home, when you’re not TV Sim Burglar Deterrent – Immobilise Marking Products Shop

Conceal Valuables from View
As soon as it gets dark, close curtains or blinds to stop passersby from spotting anything valuable inside. Burglars are less likely to target homes where they can’t see a clear reward.

Avoid Hiding Spare Keys Outside
It might seem convenient, but hiding spare keys under a plant pot or doormat is one of the first things a burglar will check. Instead, leave a spare key with someone you trust.

Lock It All Down
Double-check that all doors and windows are locked before you leave the house—even if it’s just for a short time. Avoid leaving keys in locks (or visible on the windowsill), especially near windows, where someone could smash the glass and turn the key to get in.

Don’t advertise you’ve got expensive tech
Burglars target homes that they think will contain valuables. A sure giveaway is leaving packaging from expensive items visible outside your home. On bin day, keep it hidden out of sight in collection containers.

Don’t Broadcast Your Absence
It’s tempting to share your autumn or Christmas getaway on social media—but be cautious. Public posts about your location can tip off thieves that your home is empty. If you must, share your holiday memories once you’re back home.

Join forces with Neighbours for a Safer Community
Although smart security systems are useful, we can’t always be there to oversee our homes. Developing strong relationships with your neighbours can be a great asset in helping to increase security in your community.

If your property is to be unoccupied for a period of time, ask a trusted neighbour or friend to open and close curtains at the front of the house and sort your bins out — full or untouched bins can signal that the property is empty.

Additionally, participating in local Neighbourhood Watch programs can strengthen community safety and help lower crime in your area. To find out more contact your local branch.

Tighten security if there have been burglaries in your area
Research on home burglaries in the UK suggests that if a nearby property has been burgled, it increases the likelihood of your home being targeted.

If you’re aware of any recent break-ins on your street, it’s wise to review your security measures and enhance them where possible.

Register any new gifts or gadgets sooner rather than later
As soon as you can, register any new valuables coming into the house on Immobilise.com. Include as much detail as you can, such as make, model, colour, serial numbers, identifying marks, etchings or engravings and where possible, photos and receipts.

Getting into the habit of registering new items as soon as you can after purchase, or when they’ve been gifted, leaves less chance of them being forgotten in your inventory.

For help with registering common items, visit: Registration Help