As many of us travel to see friends and family, homes may be left empty for days at a time - something opportunistic thieves know well. But we also want to feel safe and secure when spending time at home, too. That’s where simple, modern security can make all the difference.
Here are some simple winter and festive ways to help keep your home protected:
- Put your radio on a winter playlist – A softly playing talk radio station can make it sound like someone’s pottering around indoors. Not that we stole this idea from a popular film.
- Guard your home with “Operation Snowy Footprints” – If we are lucky enough to get snow, create a few fresh footprints near your property to make it look recently visited.
- Let your curtains multitask – Thermal curtains keep the warmth in and nosy eyes out, turning your home into a snug little winter grotto - a cosy double win.
- Set up a “festive light decoy” - Use timers or smart plugs to switch fairy lights or lamps on and off at different times throughout the evening. It creates that warm, lived-in glow, and from the outside, it looks like someone’s home enjoying a mug of hot chocolate (even if you’re miles away).
- Give your house a winter ‘check-up’ – Creaky gates, loose latches, or dodgy outdoor bulbs can send the wrong signals; a quick once-over keeps things secure and quieter in the wind.
- Do a “digital winter tidy” – Update passwords, disable old smart-home devices, and check which apps still have access to your cameras or security tools.
- Give Your Wi-Fi a secret-agent alias - Rename your network something like “Surveillance Central” or “Definitely Not an Empty House”. It won’t stop crime, but it might make your neighbours smile, and confusion is a surprisingly good deterrent.
- Create a “thief-unfriendly garden” - Plant prickly winter shrubs near fences and rear windows for a touch of seasonal charm and security. Holly isn’t just Christmassy — its festive sprigs make your garden both merry and mildly unwelcoming to unwanted visitors.
- Create your own “Neighbourhood Ninja Network” - Agree with trusted neighbours to keep an eye on each other’s homes over the winter - and all year round - and optionally give the Whatsapp group an unnecessarily dramatic name. Something like Winter Watch or Silent Night Security Crew.
- Use smart security to protect your home from those on the Naughty List. Systems like SimpliSafe help deter intruders and send instant alerts, so you know what’s happening at home from anywhere.
Plus, SimpliSafe’s Cyber Sale is currently live where you can get a security system for better than half price and a free siren. From all of us at SimpliSafe, we hope you have a safe and Merry Christmas.
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