Heading out for holidays? Simple precautions to keep your Hyderabad home theft-proof

Hyderabad: Are you planning to travel outside Hyderabad for summer vacation? Cyberabad cops have an advisory for you. Cyberabad DCP Crimes, LC Naik, advises all residents to stay alert and follow simple precautions to ensure safety during the season. With community cooperation and basic preventive measures, many incidents can be avoided.

It is common for burglars to recce and target locked homes during the summer season because the owners would not know about the theft until it is too late. Hence, it is important to take special precautions to ensure the safety of valuables in the house even during everyone’s absence.

Here’s a series of steps one can follow:

Informing police and special locks

- Inform the local police station about your departure and arrival plans if you need to lock your house.

- Support police efforts by coordinating night patrolling in your area.

- Keep contact numbers of local police stations and beat constables handy.

- Install locks with a central locking system for added security.

- Arrange a security alarm system with motion sensors for your house.

- Report any suspicious individuals immediately to the local police station or call 100.

- Keep your two-wheelers inside your compound, ensure they are locked, and if possible, secure them with wheel chains.

Employing special security

- Hire trusted watchmen or security guards for your property.

- Install CCTV cameras at entry and exit points of your home and monitor them online. Ensure the DVR is stored in a secure location.

- Avoid leaving garbage, milk packets, or newspapers outside your house, as this may indicate your absence to criminals.

- Cover locked doors with curtains to prevent them from being visible to strangers.

- Keep some lights on inside and outside your home to create the impression of occupancy.

Informing neighbours, family and friends

- Inform trusted neighbours about your absence and ask them to look after your home. Family and friends can be asked to visit the house from time to time to check if everything is okay.

- Avoid leaving keys in easily accessible places such as shoe racks, under pillows, above cupboards, or in dressing table drawers.

- Avoid parking in dark and isolated areas – prefer busy, well-lit places.

- Form local safety committees within your colony or apartment.

Keeping your travel plans to yourself

- Hire reliable watchmen and keep a register of visitors, especially at night.

- Do not disclose your travel plans to anyone except trusted individuals. Avoid sharing travel details on social media platforms like WhatsApp, Instagram, or Facebook.

- By following these guidelines, you can ensure the safety of your property during the Summer vacation.

- If you suspect any person, please call to Dial 100 toll-free number, Cyberabad Police Control Room at 9490617100, or WhatsApp number 9490617444.