School holidays are just around the corner, marking the start of summer and many holidays for Brits up and down the country. To help ensure their home and valuables are protected, experts share their top tips below.

Use smart lighting and timers

In 2024, England & Wales's police forces received 238,893 crime reports about burglary. If you’re planning on going away, it’s always a good idea to have some deterrents in place to protect your home.

Julia Barnes, product director at ValueLights, shares her expert advice for using the lighting in your home to keep your valuables safe when you go on holiday.

“Using your lighting is a really simple but effective way to protect your home whilst you’re away by making it look occupied. One great way to do this is with smart lighting.

“A dark house is often a sign that no one is home, so you can easily use your lighting to create the illusion that someone is in. If you’re not home but don’t want to keep your lights on all the time, smart lighting and timers are the perfect solution, keeping your belongings safe and your energy bill lower than having the lights on all the time.

“Make sure you’re placing lights in areas where the glow will be seen from outside the home. You can even use smart lighting to simulate someone moving through your house, switching lights on and off in different rooms from your app.

“Motion sensor and outdoor smart lights are another useful deterrent to burglars, turning on whenever movement is detected and illuminating your outdoor space for your neighbours to see.

“Protecting your home while you’re away doesn’t have to be complicated and expensive, and smart lighting can give you the peace of mind you need to fully enjoy your getaway.”

Install electric blinds

Alongside lighting, installing electric or motorised blinds are a great way to deter burglaries when away on holiday.

Helen O'Connor, Product and Trends Manager at 247 Blinds advises: “Electric blinds, or what some refer to as smart blinds, are a great, and sometimes cheaper, alternative to other home security measures as they can create the illusion that someone is home even when you're away, making it a less attractive target for potential burglars.

“Electric blinds are operated by a motorised unit that opens and closes the blinds and can also be set on a timer so that to onlookers it appears as though you are home. The motors are extremely efficient and use minimal power to operate. They also look like regular roller or wooden blinds, so it’s very hard for anyone to tell they are electric.”

Prep your appliances

In addition to protecting your home against break-ins, you should also consider other ways to keep your home safe from other dangers.

Ian Palmer-Smith, appliance repair expert at Domestic & General shares his home checklist for when leaving your home unattended.

“Ahead of leaving your home unattended for a period of time, you should always unclog non-essential appliances such as TVs, toasters, kettles, to reduce fire risk, as well as save on energy. Avoid any standby modes, making sure appliances are fully switched off.

“As for larger appliances, I would recommend unplugging any tumble dryers as well as ovens and hobs. If your boiler will run on a timer, consider leaving gas on but switching off individual appliances, such as any gas hobs.

“Another common concern for homeowners is returning home to water damage, and so the easiest way to avoid this risk is to switch off your water supply temporarily. If you’re going away for more than a few days, it is always worthwhile turning your water supply off to protect your home and belongings.

“This step is often overlooked but is worthwhile, especially if you’re going to be away from home for longer periods of time. To do this, locate the stopcock - usually in the cupboard under the sink and turn it off.”

Protect your car against break-in and theft

If you’re a car owner, you’ll also be thinking about how to ensure your vehicle remains safe and secure when away, alongside your home.

According to Census data, 46% of car thefts in the UK occur due to vehicle doors being left unlocked so this should be your starting point.

Lucy Sherliker, Head of Customer at Zuto car finance, advises: “When going on holiday and leaving your car at home for a number of days, you should always take plenty of measures to deter theft and break in for peace of mind whether on car finance or not. If you have a vehicle that is between one and five years old, this becomes even more crucial as they are the most likely to be targeted as recent figures show.

“With almost half of car theft cases in the UK being the result of unlocked doors, always make sure to double-check the doors are properly locked - don’t just rely on your car keys. I would also recommend using a steering wheel lock for further deterrence.

“As for protecting your car from a break in, keep all belongings out of sight, especially valuables or blankets which could give the impression that they are hiding more valuable items. Another worthwhile step is to remove the parcel shelf from your boot. This allows any potential thieves to have full visibility of the boot so that they can see there is nothing of value to steal from the vehicle.

“Finally, if you have a dashcam, make sure this is placed centrally on the dash and easy to spot. Whilst not all do, some dashcams record motion or impacts even when the car is turned off. In either case, having this can act as a good deterrent against theft or break in.”