Submitted by Intern on 7th Dec 2010 12:02:19
A new study by the UKs fastest growing online independent travel agent has revealed that 9% of British holidaymakers have been burgled whilst on holiday; whilst 81% of respondents admitted that they dont ask a friend or relative to check on their house during their time away.
Latest research from one of the UKs leading online independent travel agents has shown the dangers of leaving your home unsecured when going on holiday; with the founders offering advice on how to prevent burglaries when away.
Carried out by www.sunshine.co.uk; the study polled 1,962 Britons who had been on holiday in the past year to find out whether they'd ever been a victim of burglary when on holiday, either in the UK or abroad.
Almost 1 in 10 of the respondents, 9%, claimed they had been burgled whilst on holiday. These respondents were then asked if there were any contributing factors that led to them being burgled, aside from their house being unattended. 37% admitted that they hadnt left their house adequately secure, meaning that theyd either left a window or door open or unlocked.
81% of the total respondents to the study admitted that they dont bother asking a friend or relative to check on their house when they are on holiday. Of these, 26% explained that they didnt think they would need anybody to look in on their home when they are away; whilst 42% said they wouldnt want to put someone out by asking them.
None of the respondents who had been burgled during their holiday had asked a friend or family member to check on their home.
The respondents who dont ask someone to check on their home when on holiday were further asked "Do you take any measures to prevent your home being burgled whilst you were on holiday?" 6% said that they make use of plug-in timers to operate their lights, whilst 4% said that they leave lights on permanently in their house.
The founders of http://www.sunshine.co.uk and The Alarming Man have put together six key tips to help prevent a break-in whilst on holiday:
1. Give your house key to someone you trust and ask them to keep an eye on your property. Asking someone to draw your curtains in the evening and open them in the morning can be a good way to make your house appear occupied, and detract the attention of burglars.
2. Ensure that all windows and doors are locked and secure.
3. Invest in plug-in timers to operate your lights, as they will give the illusion that somebody is home.
4. If you dont already have one, look into the possibility of getting a monitored security alarm for your home that calls a key-holder rather than just making a noise. If you cant afford that, discuss monthly payment options.
5. Whilst probably the more expensive option, security cameras are a fantastic idea. Even if they are not working cameras, the presence of them can deter burglars.
6. Leave a car on your driveway, or outside your house. Again, this will make it more difficult for a burglar to decipher if the house is occupied or not; thus decreasing chances of a break-in.
Chris Brown, co-founder of http://www.sunshine.co.uk, commented on the findings:
Being broken in to whilst on holiday is a huge worry, but things can be done to ensure this doesnt happen or at least minimise the chances of a robbery. Dont be too proud to ask someone to house-sit whilst you are away, particularly if there are high burglary-rates in your area. This is the best way to ensure that your house is constantly attended to in your absence, and isnt attracting the unwanted attention of opportunistic burglars.
Whilst we were expecting some people to have said that they had been a victim of burglary whilst they were on holiday, 1 in 10 is quite a high number. Hopefully, our tips will give some guidance to people looking to go abroad, but are worried about leaving their home empty. Taking these easy, sensible measures can really help minimise the risk of a break-in in your absence.
LINK http://www.sunshine.co.uk
Carried out by www.sunshine.co.uk; the study polled 1,962 Britons who had been on holiday in the past year to find out whether they'd ever been a victim of burglary when on holiday, either in the UK or abroad.
Almost 1 in 10 of the respondents, 9%, claimed they had been burgled whilst on holiday. These respondents were then asked if there were any contributing factors that led to them being burgled, aside from their house being unattended. 37% admitted that they hadnt left their house adequately secure, meaning that theyd either left a window or door open or unlocked.
81% of the total respondents to the study admitted that they dont bother asking a friend or relative to check on their house when they are on holiday. Of these, 26% explained that they didnt think they would need anybody to look in on their home when they are away; whilst 42% said they wouldnt want to put someone out by asking them.
None of the respondents who had been burgled during their holiday had asked a friend or family member to check on their home.
The respondents who dont ask someone to check on their home when on holiday were further asked "Do you take any measures to prevent your home being burgled whilst you were on holiday?" 6% said that they make use of plug-in timers to operate their lights, whilst 4% said that they leave lights on permanently in their house.
The founders of http://www.sunshine.co.uk and The Alarming Man have put together six key tips to help prevent a break-in whilst on holiday:
1. Give your house key to someone you trust and ask them to keep an eye on your property. Asking someone to draw your curtains in the evening and open them in the morning can be a good way to make your house appear occupied, and detract the attention of burglars.
2. Ensure that all windows and doors are locked and secure.
3. Invest in plug-in timers to operate your lights, as they will give the illusion that somebody is home.
4. If you dont already have one, look into the possibility of getting a monitored security alarm for your home that calls a key-holder rather than just making a noise. If you cant afford that, discuss monthly payment options.
5. Whilst probably the more expensive option, security cameras are a fantastic idea. Even if they are not working cameras, the presence of them can deter burglars.
6. Leave a car on your driveway, or outside your house. Again, this will make it more difficult for a burglar to decipher if the house is occupied or not; thus decreasing chances of a break-in.
Chris Brown, co-founder of http://www.sunshine.co.uk, commented on the findings:
Being broken in to whilst on holiday is a huge worry, but things can be done to ensure this doesnt happen or at least minimise the chances of a robbery. Dont be too proud to ask someone to house-sit whilst you are away, particularly if there are high burglary-rates in your area. This is the best way to ensure that your house is constantly attended to in your absence, and isnt attracting the unwanted attention of opportunistic burglars.
Whilst we were expecting some people to have said that they had been a victim of burglary whilst they were on holiday, 1 in 10 is quite a high number. Hopefully, our tips will give some guidance to people looking to go abroad, but are worried about leaving their home empty. Taking these easy, sensible measures can really help minimise the risk of a break-in in your absence.
LINK http://www.sunshine.co.uk
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