Almost two thirds (64pc) of Britons plan to mimic occupancy by leaving lights on and closing curtains, to deter thefts. Some 83pc admitted they had left doors and windows unlocked in their rush to leave the house over Christmas, while 23pc have accidentally left them open. This prompted three in ten (30pc) of Brits to send a neighbour, friend or relative to check if they’d locked up properly.
According to the smart home automation company Lightwave, Brits are also putting their homes in danger by leaving hazardous appliances switched on while they’re away. With people’s minds preoccupied with last-minute presents to buy and getting to the nativity on time, the firm found 38pc of people have forgotten to switch off hazardous appliances such as the hob or iron or turn off the tap, as they rush out of the door.
Hair straighteners proved to be the worst offender. The company makes the point that hair straightener temperatures can exceed that of a deep fat-fryer, that can pose a serious fire risk if straighteners do not have an ‘automatic switch-off’ function built in.
The gadgets we’re most likely to forget to switch off, according to a survey by OnePoll among 2,000 UK adults in August:
1) Hair straighteners (27pc)
2) Oven (11pc)
3) Tap (10pc)
4) Iron (6pc)
5) Hob (4pc)
John Shermer, founder and Chief Innovation Officer at Lightwave said: “There’s so much to think about at Christmas that we’re forgetting to prioritise the safety and security of our most valuable possessions; our homes. And with temperatures dropping, it’s important to make sure homes are heated properly to avoid pipes freezing which can cause thousands of pounds of damage.
“This is where smart home technology steps in. It enables people to control heating, lighting and security remotely so even if you’ve left the house in a hurry, you can check in to make sure all is well while you’re away.”
Security tips for houses this Christmas:
Lights and sound – mimic occupancy by automating lights and setting blinds to open and close at typical times of the day in order to deter thefts. You can also use smart sockets to control other devices, like radios, to make the sure the house isn’t completely silent whilst you’re away enjoying the festivities.
Lock your windows and doors – burglars will try all entry points to get into the house, so it’s important to make sure that all windows are doors are both shut and locked when leaving the house unoccupied
Presents out of sight – traditional as it is to leave big presents under the tree, only do so if the curtains are closed and they will be out of sight to reduce temptation.
If you’re always dashing out the door, running late for the Christmas party or if you’ve ever left the Christmas tree lights on, smart sockets will also enable you to monitor things and switch off remotely.
