Welcome in the new year securely with Yale

The time between Christmas and New Year’s Eve can be busy for many of us; visiting, family and friends, taking short breaks and preparing for one of the biggest nights of the year. And because it can be so busy, there are often many homes which are left empty, making easy pickings for burglars.

And so, it’s essential to ensure your home security is up to scratch, allowing you to enjoy the New Year’s Eve festivities with peace of mind.

To help you keep your home safe and secure around the celebrations of the New Year and on into 2023, our security experts here at Yale have shared their top tips on how you can keep your home protected, making sure you start the year off in the best possible way.

Secure seasonal door

During the festive season we all embellish our front doors, making the entrance to our homes as welcoming as possible. However, it could also be a warm welcome to opportunistic burglars looking for an easy target.

With homes left unoccupied during the New Year’s Eve celebrations, it’s important to ensure your front door security is up to date to prevent opportunistic attacks.

It’s important to remember, whether you’re at home or out and about, it’s essential to lock your door. Most opportunistic guests gain access to a home through a door, so it’s imperative to secure your front door any time of the day and night. 

If you’re out and about during the festivities, being able to check the status of your door can be very reassuring. A smart door lock allows you to be in control of your front door, from anywhere.

A smart door lock allows you to check the status of your door any time of the day or night simply by using your smartphone, letting you party the night away in peace.

If you’re away for a couple of nights during the New Year celebrations, it might be reassuring to have an outdoor camera to keep an eye over your home. A smart security camera lets you check-in on your property from anywhere at any time, so you can be aware of any unusual activity.

When choosing a smart camera, look for one which has two-way talk functionality. This allows you to speak to anyone on the other side of the camera, such as a delivery driver, neighbour or an opportunistic thief trying to gain entry. 

Set the alarm

As well as protecting the entrance to your home, it’s also important to ensure your whole property is kept safe and secure.

A secure alarm system can help to keep burglars away during the new year celebrations. A bell box attached to the side of the property shows the house is alarmed, acting as a visual deterrent and showing that the owners take security seriously.

A smart alarm system allows you to arm and disarm your alarm anywhere at any time, keeping you in control of the security of your home, even when you’re out. Sensors positioned around the home can cover all possible entrance points, so you’ll be instantly alerted if motion is detected inside the home.

And if you’re leaving a pet alone at home while you head out and celebrate the new year, it’s still possible to arm the alarm in your home with the help of pet sensors.

Hold off on posting

When it comes to celebrations, it’s not uncommon for us to share these special moments with friends and family on social media. However, it’s not just friends and family who might be looking at your photographs. It’s also possible your photos and locations are also being seen by opportunistic thieves, who are scoping out social media for more information on which homes might have been left empty.

And so, to make sure opportunistic thieves aren’t aware your property is empty during the evening of 31^st December, keep off social until you’re back home, and make sure all your settings are set to private.

New Year’s Eve can be an exciting night of the year and prioritising your home security before the celebrations start will help to give you peace of mind as you ring in the new year.

As we head into 2023, make sure you’re up to date with all the latest news and products from Yale by visiting your local site.