The Summer Holiday Security Checklist: Before You Leave for the Airport
Going on holiday? Here is everything to check before you leave — from locks to lights to social media. Print this list and work through it before your taxi arrives.
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07735 336175Your Home Is Most Vulnerable When You Are on Holiday
You have booked the flights, packed the bags, and you are counting down the days to two weeks of sunshine. But before you head to the airport, there is one thing that can ruin your entire holiday faster than a flight delay: coming home to find you have been burgled.
Summer is peak season for holiday burglaries in Coventry. Homes are left empty for one or two weeks at a time, and the signs of absence are often obvious to anyone who bothers to look. A pile of post on the doormat. Bins left out. No lights on for days. An overgrown lawn.
I have put together this checklist based on what I see as a locksmith working across Coventry and Warwickshire. Every item on this list comes from a real problem I have dealt with.
Before You Leave: The Full Security Checklist
Double-Lock All Doors
This is the most important item on this list, and the one people get wrong most often.
If you have a uPVC or composite door, you **must** lift the handle and turn the key to fully engage the multi-point locking system. If you just pull the door shut, only the centre latch engages — and a uPVC door on the latch can be opened with a plastic card or a firm shove.
I cannot tell you how many burglary callouts I attend where the door was simply not locked properly. The homeowner assumed pulling it shut was enough. It is not.
Do this for every external door: front, back, side, and any door from the garage into the house.
Close and Lock All Windows
Every window. Every room. Including upstairs bathrooms and small windows you think nobody could get through. Burglars are surprisingly agile, and a small open window is an invitation to try.
Check that every uPVC window handle is in the locked position (turned fully down or up depending on the style). If any handles are floppy or do not lock properly, get them replaced before you go. A window handle replacement is quick and cheap.
Set Timer Lights
Set plug-in timers in at least two rooms — ideally the living room and a bedroom. Stagger the on/off times so it looks natural. A living room light that comes on at 7pm and goes off at 11pm, and a bedroom light that comes on at 10pm and goes off at 11:30pm, mimics a normal evening routine.
Smart plugs connected to your phone let you vary the times each day if you want to be thorough.
Arrange Post and Parcel Collection
A pile of post visible through the letterbox is one of the biggest giveaways that nobody is home. Ask a trusted neighbour to collect your post daily, or use Royal Mail's Keepsafe service to hold your mail at the sorting office while you are away.
Cancel any regular deliveries — milk, newspapers, subscription boxes. And if you are expecting parcels, redirect them or arrange for a neighbour to accept them.
Do Not Announce Your Holiday on Social Media
I know, you are excited. But "Off to Majorca for two weeks!" posted publicly on Facebook is an invitation to anyone who can work out where you live. Save the photos for when you get back. At the very minimum, make sure your social media profiles are set to private, not public.
Ask a Neighbour to Help
A good neighbour is better than any security system. Ask them to:
In return, do the same for them when they go away.
Lock the Back Door Properly
Back doors are the most common entry point for burglars in Coventry. Many people focus on the front door and forget that the back door — often less visible to neighbours and passersby — is the one most likely to be targeted.
If your back door is a uPVC or composite door, the same rule applies: lift the handle and turn the key. If it is an older wooden door, make sure the [deadlock is engaged](/services/lock-change) — not just the Yale-type latch.
Secure Garden Tools and the Garage
Your own tools can be used against you. A spade or a crowbar left in an unlocked shed gives a burglar exactly what they need to force open a door or window.
Key Security
Before you leave, think about who has access.
Cancel Milk and Regular Deliveries
Four pints of milk curdling on the doorstep is a neon sign saying "we are not here." Cancel everything that gets delivered regularly — and remember to cancel the window cleaner too, if you have one.
The Quick Version: 10-Point Pre-Holiday Lock Check
Is Your Home Actually Secure? A Quick Test
Before you go, try this: stand outside your front door. Can you see anything through the windows that would tell a stranger the house is empty? Walk around the back. Is the side gate locked? Is the shed secure? Is there anything left out that could be used to break in?
If you are not sure about the condition of your locks, call me on 07735 336175. I can do a quick door security check and tell you whether your locks are up to scratch. If they are not, I can [upgrade them on the spot](/services/lock-upgrade) — usually in under an hour.
Check my [prices page](/prices) for current rates. A lock upgrade before your holiday is a fraction of the cost of dealing with a burglary when you get back.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is pulling my uPVC door shut enough to lock it when I go on holiday?
No, and this is the most common security mistake I see. Pulling a uPVC or composite door shut only engages the central latch — which can be bypassed with a plastic card or a firm shove. You must lift the handle upward and then turn the key to engage all the deadbolts in the multi-point locking system. This applies to front doors, back doors, and any side doors.
How can I make my home look occupied while I am on holiday?
Use timer lights in at least two rooms with staggered on/off times to mimic normal routines. Ask a neighbour to park on your drive, put bins out and in, and collect your post daily. Close curtains in some rooms but not all (a house with every curtain closed for two weeks also looks suspicious). Cancel milk and regular deliveries. Do not post about your holiday on social media until you return.
Should I hide a spare key outside for emergencies while I am away?
Never hide a key under a doormat, flowerpot, fake rock, or meter box. Burglars know every common hiding spot. If someone needs access while you are away — a pet sitter, neighbour, or family member — either give them a key in person or install a wall-mounted key safe. I fit key safes from around £50 and they are far more secure than any hiding spot.
What should I do about garden tools and ladders before going on holiday?
Lock everything inside your shed or garage. Ladders, spades, crowbars, and other tools can all be used to force entry into your home. Your shed should have a proper hasp and padlock — not a cheap combination lock. Your garage should be locked on both the main door and any internal door leading into the house. Do not leave anything outside that could help a burglar.
About the Author
I'm Ross, a local independent locksmith covering Coventry, Nuneaton, Rugby, Leamington Spa, Warwick, and all surrounding areas. I've been working as a locksmith in the Coventry area for years and I've seen every type of lock problem there is. If you need a locksmith, call me on 07735 336175 — I'm available 24/7.