Winter is my favourite season, but it’s the season that brings the most security issues, with an increase in burglaries for a start. Longer nights, icy conditions, and travelling for the festive break can make homes more appealing to burglars.
There are a few things you can do, to try and help protect your property during the winter, to hopefully protect yourself against theft or damage.
Why Winter Creates New Security Risks
Winter is all about being cosy and comfortable, but it’s also the season for security risks.
Shorter days and longer nights mean a reduction in visibility, making it easier for potential intruders to move around outside/inside your property unnoticed.
Changes in your daily routine, like leaving your house in the dark, and returning when it’s dark, can create predictable patterns for anyone that’s watching your house.
Snow and ice can hide tracks (like footprints), muffle sounds, and keep people indoor, so unusual activity is less likely to be noticed.
Homes are also left empty for longer, due to people travelling to see family, with frozen locks or stuck gates highlighting irregular use, for those looking for signs homes are empty.
Keeping Doors and Windows Secure in Cold Weather
The cold weather has an effect on the way doors/windows fit, sometimes causing them to swell, to shift or stick. If this happens, your locks might not line up properly, or latches might not close all the way, without you even noticing.
Ensure you regularly check entrances, and tighten up any loose hinges or hardware on windows and doors. Ensure all locks are clean and lightly lubricated (with WD40).
Using weatherstripping, or door sweeps, can improve insulation within your home, but doors must still close smoothly for maximum security.
Whenever there’s a storm, test your windows and sensors, replace weak batteries, and ensure locks and latches close securely.
Importance of Outdoor Lighting in Winter
With shorter days and more often storms, outdoor lighting is more important than ever. If you have dark areas around your home, it gives burglars places to hide, while well-lit spaces make suspicious activity easier to see from the street.
Your entryways, garages and garden gates should always be well-lit, so movement stands out. You can use motion-activated lights in your garden, so they automatically turn on whenever motion is detected within your garden and near your garage.
Lights should be aimed downwards, to avoid glare, and focus on your key-areas, with bushes/trees trimmed, so the light’s beams are not blocked.
You can use LED bulbs, timers, or dusk-to-dawn sensors, to ensure your lighting is reliable, without increasing your energy costs.
How Snow and Ice Can Reveal Your Absence
Snow and ice can alert people that a house is empty. When your paths stay covered in snow or ice, and no footprints appear, it’s clear that nobody has been coming or going from the property.
If your driveway is never cleared, or your mailbox is surrounded by ice, it also suggests that nobody is home. If someone is watching your street with nefarious intentions, these are things they look for, during the winter.
Areas where movement is normally expected (like steps, paths, bins and parking spaces), all stand out when they remain untouched for days.
Smart Ways to Use Timers and Smart Devices
It’s always a good idea to use timers and smart devices, as they can help your home look active, even if there’s nobody home.
Timers can be used to switch on lamps, or porch lights at different times, so the pattern looks natural to an outsider.
Some systems allow you to choose random timing, to make lighting changes less predictable. Plus, motion-activated lights only turn on when someone passes by, saving energy during long winter nights.
Using smart locks on your doors, allow you to secure doors from anywhere, and share temporary access with someone you trust, to allow for snow clearing, or mail checks.
Home cameras like a smart video doorbell allow you to check on deliveries, or unexpected activity, and alerts can notify you of movements, so you can respond and get help quickly.