The Great Hunt: How do you make your house look occupied while on holiday?

Doshwaster

Mr_Wang wrote: »

Have someone come and make it look occupied every few days. It also helps living in an area where not a single incidence of crime has occurred this year so far (well, that has been reported)

Good idea. Invite several local teenagers around to house sit. Just what could possibly go wrong?

[Deleted User]

Biggles wrote: »

That's the big give-away. It absolutely shouts, "They're away!".

Agreed. A policeman told me that this is the way burglars often spot when people are away. Closed curtains during the day are much more telling than open ones at night (which could just mean you've gone to bed early or you're out late).

I'm another person that puts lights on timers - but always in back rooms where no-one can look in and see they're empty. Then I leave doors to the front rooms slightly open so that the light is visible from the street - it just looks like the person who lives there is sitting in a back room.

Oh yes, and a burglar alarm helps too !

brokenjaw

leave 'stuff' untidily on the sides in the kitchen and on the dining room table - ie - plates, spoons, mugs - teapot/tea bags etc, open newspaper
gives a 'looked in' look for prying eyes.

bettyboon

Leave lights and radio on timers. Park a car in the drive or ask a trusted neighbour to park there. Curtains should be left open but room should be left untidy as if someone has just left the room. Don't have full length glass in the front door which allows post to be seen piling up. Don't post photos on Facebook of the entire family on a beach far away. If you are going away for more than a couple of weeks in the summer months, get someone to mow the grass.

jonny7227

Ask neighbour to use drive for parking
Put lights (various) on timers
Never post anything in social media about your holiday before you go or while you are there
Only upload holiday pictures after you have returned.

Biggles

PompeyPete wrote: »

Keep you 'trap' shut.
Avoid careless talk, especially in the pub.
And don't litter Fakebook or Twatter with stuff telling the world that you're going on holiday!

It's a good point about the pub. It doesn't matter that you think you've only told people you know and (probably) trust; all it needs it for someone to say, 'Where's PompeyPete?' and one of your confidants will pipe up, 'Oh, didn't you know, they're all in Barbados this week and next'.

And don't make the 'grand departure' the night before your holiday; slip out quietly. How annoying is it, when you've been careful not to tell too many people, for all your friends you call out as you leave, 'Have a wonderful holiday'? Your cover is blown!

Biggles

I've posted this on another thread somewhere, but it might bear repeating: one device I use all the time is the Timeguard 7-day digital light switch (http://www.timeguard.com/products/light/automatic-light-switches/7-day-digital-security-light-switch).

This simply replaces any normal light switch and will come on at dusk and go off at any pre-programmed time. Thus it will come on when it gets dark and go off at bedtime, just as though you were at home. I actually let it do that even when I'm at home, as it goes on and off when I would need it anyway.

Devonian_Rodders

Noted many contributors use timers in order to give impression home is "Lived In" when you are away.
I tried this many years ago with success BUT.......a neighbout opposite once told me "I always know when you are away because your lights go on and of at this time and that time". So I invested in timers which operated randomly.
Nowadays I have commercial alarm system which uses P I R and is monitored 24/7 This also reduces Insurance premiums.

Bonser

I completely agree that telling people you're going away can be dangerous - you don't know who's listening in!
If you trust your local post office and are happy to tell them that you're going on holiday, then they will keep your mail for you so no tell-tale pile of letters behind your door.
Get someone to cut your lawn if you have grass, as if you're away for a few weeks, that's an obvious sign there's nobody home.

melanzana

Another tip. Put some old towels, tea towels and bits and pieces on the clothesline before you go away.

Unlikely a random burglar mooching around the back will notice they have been there for days!