Festive Season Home Safety Advice from Neighbourhood Watch Scotland

With Christmas just around the corner and presents piling up for the big day here as some ideas to help with your Festive Security and Safety

Thieves know that over Christmas there will be high value presents and maybe more cash in your house than normal.

Keep your home secure – lock all windows and doors. If you have an alarm installed – use it. Don’t leave gifts in view of the windows and keep cash in your home to a minimum.

Give your garden a festive spruce up. Lock your garden gates and side entrances. Don’t leave tools lying around that could be used to break into your home. Keep any sheds or outbuilding securely locked with good quality locks.

If you’re going away for Christmas, keep your home secure. Lock all windows and doors, set your house alarm if you have one, use timers on lights, cancel any deliveries and ask a neighbour or friend you trust to keep an eye out while you’re away.

If you’re having a house party with lots of guests, it can be all too easy for a thief to slip in unnoticed. Make sure you know everyone who is there. If you’re going to a party, don’t let anyone tailgate you into a house or through a secured communal entry door who may not be a guest.

Protect any gifts you’ve bought for your friends and family. Get them to register mobile phones, tablets, laptops and cameras at www.immobilise.com. Don’t give them a good quality bike without giving them a good quality lock, and register bikes at www.BikeRegister.com.