It's that time of year! To escape the cold, grey Essex fog, Southenders will be hoping to head off on their skiing holidays. To zoom down mountains, drink wine and have a great time in the snow.
But while you're away, how secure is your home?
When we go on holiday, we get relaxed, and probably a bit complacent. Truth is, we should be ramping up the security precautions we take.
With the amount of security systems you can have installed in your home, from CCTV to burglar alarms, there's no excuse for a poorly protected home while you're on holiday!
So here's a list of the top precautions you can take to keep your home secure while you're away having fun!
Seriously, it's really not a great idea.
Here's why.
In 2016, Kim Kardashian was robbed of £12 million worth of jewellery. One of the items was a ring, which she can be seen posing with on Instagram...
Unfortunately, most people just don't understand how to use social media safely. If you're going to show off your valuables without locking down your privacy, you should remember that burglars will also be watching.
Let people know about your valuables, and they will target them.
It's the same concept for your holiday. Announce that you'll be out of your home for 7-14 days... You get the picture.
It doesn't mean you can't pop your holiday snaps on Facebook - just wait until you get home.
Checklists - from pilots to surgeons, they help people do the right thing, every time.
And sure, you aren't doing heart surgery but home security is made so much easier if you follow a simple checklist.
Here's a free one you can download now.
The advance in CCTV tech is incredible. It makes it cheaper, more useful and easier to use than ever before. Which is why you should be using it to keep an eye on your home!
With most new systems you can watch your footage live, wherever you are, as long as you have a decent internet connection and a smart device!
So while you're having a coffee halfway down the mountain in a cafe, get your smart phone out, connect to the WiFi and check on your home. It really is that easy.
Burglar alarms are great at scaring off unwanted intruders, but actually, if it isn't monitored then you're relying on a Good Samaritan to react.
This is why monitoring is incredibly important.
It means there is an Alarm Receiving Centre keeping your home secure. If there's an activation, then your alarm is never ignored! But if you're relying on your next door neighbours, or a passerby, you can't guarantee they'll act on hearing your alarm.
Using a monitoring system also gives you the option to receive a Police response!
No matter how secure you think your house is - there are always measures you can take to further burglar-proof your home.
You never know... you could be next on a burglar's hit list!
How secure is your home? Click the image below to take our quiz! It only takes five minutes to discover your personalised home security score.
