How to Prevent Burglary While You're on Holiday – Practical, Modern Security Tips
When you're on holiday, you want to relax, not worry about what might go wrong at home. Yet burglaries tend to rise during holiday periods: empty streets, unoccupied homes and predictable routines make houses an easy target. Fortunately, a few smart measures can drastically reduce the risk of a break-in – from simple habits to professional security with cameras, alarms and access control.
In this article I share practical tips that actually work, with a focus on modern security technology rather than clichés like "leave a light on".
1. Don't make your home predictable
Burglars look for patterns: curtains that stay closed for days, no car in the driveway, lights that never change, or a letterbox overflowing with post.
What you should do:
✔ Ask neighbours to walk past now and then
✔ Use smart lighting with random timers
✔ Leave curtains in their normal position
✔ No out-of-office or holiday posts on social media until you're back
What you shouldn't do:
✘ Key under the doormat
✘ A note for the parcel courier
✘ The same light timers every day
2. Install a good alarm system
An alarm system is one of the strongest deterrents there is. Modern systems send alerts to your smartphone, neighbours, family or even an alarm receiving centre (ARC).
Recommended:
- Ajax Systems (wireless, extremely user-friendly, ideal for homes)
- Dahua / Uniview when combined with camera systems
- Ubiquiti / UniFi for integration with existing network setups
Essential components:
- Door and window sensors
- Indoor motion detectors
- Sirens both indoors and outdoors
- Panic button in the house (also handy after your holiday)
Tip: Only put the system into test mode once you're home – never remotely from the campsite.
3. Add outdoor detection – prevention beats catching them in the act
Burglars are often on the property for minutes before they actually force a door. Outdoor detection gives you an early warning.
Examples:
- Dual-beam IR detectors such as the UMA AIR-B60 or AIR-BI100 (universal and easy to connect to Ajax via DoorProtect)
- Outdoor PIR cameras with an alarm function
- Smart floodlights or cameras with a spotlight
→ This way you're alerted as soon as someone walks into the garden, not when they're already inside.
4. Use cameras with local storage (no cloud-only junk)
CCTV doesn't just help with tracing intruders; it also works as a deterrent. However, cheap cloud cameras are risky, especially if you don't know where your footage is stored.
Better:
✔ Cameras with a local NVR system
✔ Installed on a dedicated VLAN without internet access
✔ Brands with regular updates and solid firmware (Hikvision, Dahua, UniFi Protect, Ajax)
Avoid:
✘ No-name cameras from budget stores or AliExpress
✘ Cloud-only baby monitors used as security
✘ Port forwarding without a VPN
5. Don't just hide valuables – secure the entry points
Many people focus on cameras but forget the real issue: access.
Smart measures:
- A sturdy cylinder with anti-snap (core-pulling) protection
- Doorbell intercom (e.g. Akuvox / Dahua / Hikvision)
- Magnetic contacts on windows
- Extra locks on sliding patio doors and the back door
Combine that with visible security (sirens, stickers, spotlight cameras) and a burglar is far more likely to pick another target.
6. Protect valuables inside
If someone does get in, make sure you limit the damage:
✔ Valuables in a safe
✔ Documents and passports stored securely, not just in a cupboard
✔ Tracking on laptops/phones (Find My / MDM)
✔ No keys visible next to the front door (burglary + car theft)
7. Don't forget business equipment at home
Many business owners keep stock, laptops, samples or equipment at home – which increases both the risk and the potential damage.
Examples of what you can do:
- A camera covering the home office
- Access only via a separate, lockable room
- An alarm system with extra zones for the workspace
- UPS + NAS in a locked cabinet
8. The ultimate holiday checklist
Before you leave:
☑ Alarm armed + ARC monitoring or push notifications set up
☑ Cameras recording locally with storage
☑ Outdoor detection enabled
☑ Neighbours informed
☑ Post collection arranged
☑ Valuables stored away
☑ Smart lighting schedule set
While you're away:
☑ Don't post where you are
☑ Don't respond to unknown visitors via your video doorbell without verification
☑ Keep an eye on system notifications
After your holiday:
☑ Disarm the alarm temporarily when you come in
☑ Check the event logs
☑ Review camera footage for any unusual alerts
You don't prevent a holiday burglary with a single gadget, but with a complete approach:
➡ a visibly secured property
➡ layered detection (outdoor + indoor)
➡ an alarm system that genuinely deters
➡ cameras for evidence and monitoring
➡ no predictable signs that you're away
With modern systems such as Ajax Systems, Hikvision, UniFi Protect and UMA outdoor detection, you can protect your home securely and with respect for privacy – even when you're away for weeks.
