The Easter holidays are upon us and many families with school kids will already be off on their break away from work and home life.
With many people expected to use the long Easter weekend off work to also get a break away, homeowners are being advised of the following key steps to ensure their home is kept safe.
According to the experts at Liberty Insurance, one in five Irish homeowners has no security measures installed in their houses.
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Without having to fork out on expensive equipment, there are a variety of easy measures homeowners can take to minimise the risk of burglaries while they are away from home, over the Easter weekend, or during the summer ahead.
Here’s what the experts advise:
Ensure you have security measures in place and that they are working
Research carried out by Liberty Insurance and RED C in January and February 2023 found that 18 per cent of homeowners have no home security measures, with this number highest in Connacht and Ulster at 31 per cent.
Of those surveyed, only 53 per cent of respondents across the country were found to have installed a home security alarm, with this number highest among Dublin homeowners at 78 per cent.
Home alarms can play a key role in protecting your home, and it is important to ensure alarms have been serviced and are functioning correctly.
Ask neighbours to keep an eye out while you are away
Relying on neighbours is the single most popular measure Irish homeowners rely on for home security while away, with 61 per cent saying they ask their neighbours to keep an eye on their home.
Asking a trusted neighbour to regularly check in on your home can add a level of security while also ensuring any damage from flooding, leaks, etc. does not go unnoticed.
Avoid social media posts about your holiday while you are away
More than half of Irish homeowners (53 per cent) already avoid posting on social media about their holidays while they are away.
Posts that identify that people are not at home can be easily seen by potential burglars, so if you wish to post holiday photos on social media, it is best to do so once you have returned.
Cancel regular deliveries and ask neighbours to collect mail
A buildup of uncollected home deliveries such as milk or newspapers can be an obvious sign that a house may be unoccupied.
If you are going to be away, cancelling these deliveries for the duration of your absence can help reduce this risk. Just one in seven (14 per cent) of Irish homeowners already cancel these regular deliveries before going on holiday.
Similarly, a visible accumulation of mail can indicate an unoccupied home, so asking trusted neighbours to collect mail while you are away can help reduce this risk.
Install and use smart lights
Particularly at night, having lights coming on and off at irregular times can also help deter prospective intruders by making your home appear to be occupied.
Almost half of Irish homeowners (44 per cent) already use such ‘smart’ lights while they are away, while 20 per cent leave their blinds or curtains open while on holiday.
Homeowners who are looking at travelling over the coming weeks and months should consider putting these home security measures in place and reduce the risk of burglaries over the holiday period.
José Luis García Camiñas, Product Leader for Liberty Seguros in Europe said: "As Irish consumers start to look ahead to the holiday season, whether over Easter or in the summer months, there are several measures that should be considered to help protect your home while you are away.
"Installing security systems, asking neighbours to check in while you are absent, and avoiding social media posts while on holidays are important measures consumers can take.
"As individual measures they can help, but it is most valuable if consumers implement a number of them at the same time to maximise the protection they can provide.
"If something goes wrong, your insurance coverage should give you peace of mind. Each home is different, so the important thing is to have insurance coverage that meets the true needs of each person or family."
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