How to protect your property from burglary this winter

Every October when the clocks go back there is something brilliantly comforting about settling into the longer nights, getting cosy in front of the fire and looking forward to seeing loved ones over Christmas. Others, however, view the upcoming months as an important window of opportunity: every winter burglary rates rise thanks to longer, darker nights, inclement weather and travel over the festive period. According to both police and insurance claims data, burglaries increase by 20% to 30% between October and March.

With an international reputation as experts in smart home security technology, Reolink UK knows a huge amount about the cyclical nature of the business: ‘As the days get shorter and people start to think about spending more time away from home during the festive season, it’s important that homeowners have full visibility of what’s happening around their property, particularly when they’re not there in person,’ points out Managing Director at Reolink, Ali Park. ‘For owners of large homes and rural properties, being able to remotely check on key access points such as driveways, gates and entrances can provide much-needed peace of mind when away from home for a few hours, a few days or even a few weeks.’

The first thing to bear in mind is that burglars look for properties they perceive to be low risk, so clearly signalling you have serious security is one of the most important things you can do; this is particularly true for larger houses set in private grounds where neighbours don’t serve as a deterrent. After this, the most effective tactics for keeping your home safe include making the property look occupied, taking all possible precautions with keys and locks, and ensuring you have the right systems in place.

Tips for securing your house against burglary: 

• Install motion sensor lighting at any gates, along your drive and around your perimeter
• Fit a visible, effective burglar alarm
• Put lights on timers so they click on as it starts to get dark whether you’re at home or away
• Never leave keys anywhere near your doors including under mats, in pots or on top of a car wheel
• Secure garages, outbuildings and sheds, ensuring that tools are safely out of reach
• Arrange to have post, milk or parcels collected when you are absent
• Keep all doors and windows locked, even when you’re at home — burglaries can still happen when the family are present
• Install real-time monitoring 

In terms of monitoring, Ali says many customers don’t realise how straightforward it is to install live video, and what a game-changer it can be: ‘Home security is no longer about recording incidents after they happen,’ he explains. ‘For instance, the OMVI 2i Ultra allows homeowners to monitor, track and respond to activity around their house in real time, providing them with a greater sense of control and reassurance, and it can all be set up in a day.’

As an all-in-one home security solution, the OMVI 2i Ultra offers 360-degree smart detection in or around your house, gardens and all external areas. It is able to identify people, vehicles, and animals and is paired with a motion-activated spotlight, infrared and colour night vision and siren and light deterrence. Extremely simple to set up, with up to six months of battery life supporting up-to twelve simultaneous streams, the system allows users to access a real-time view with two-way audio, so that you can access updated information about whoever is approaching your property, day or night.

As the seasons change it’s always worth doing an audit of your security, making sure everything is working properly and checking you have the level of protection you need. Once you feel confident your systems are all up-to-scratch you’re free to relax and enjoy the holiday season – whether you’re all at home watching TV or sunning yourselves on a Caribbean beach.

Country Life readers can find out more about the latest home security systems — and get an exclusive 10% off promo code via the Reolink website — until November 1 using the code 'COUNTRYLIFE'; alternatively view the OMVI 2i Ultra on Amazon.