Protecting your home while you're away

For UK customers only

Checklist

If you are planning to go away, there are a few simple steps you can follow to protect your property:

• Cancel the milk and newspaper deliveries for the time you're away
• During colder months, leave your heating on - a lower setting will suffice - to protect pipes from frost
• Ask a trusted neighbour, relative or friend to keep an eye on your home and report anything suspicious to the police. Also encourage a neighbour to park their car in your drive while you're away
• Use timer switches, (readily available from DIY stores), to turn lights off and on during the evening to give the appearance that someone is at home
• Keep cash, keys, credit cards and other valuables out of sight - avoid putting keys on key hangers near doors. If you are leaving your car at home, ensure that your car keys are put away
• Never leave a spare key concealed anywhere near the front or back door - burglars know all the hiding places
• Don't have your home address on your luggage for the outward journey - put this only on the inside of your case
• Lock all doors and windows
• If you have an alarm, make sure that it is set

Media contact -
Liz Kennett, Norwich Union press office on 01603 688263
November 2003