8 tips to keep your holiday home in Portugal safe when empty

Holidays are a well-deserved break from work and routine, and if you own a holiday home in Portugal, you're one of the lucky ones who has somewhere to stay abroad. However, owning a holiday home in Portugal can come with its own problems and worries, especially when the property is left empty for long periods. While some people prefer to rent out their holiday home in Portugal in the off season, this isn't always an option, meaning an empty property is left at risk from burglaries. In 2020, residential burglaries increased 14% compared to the previous year, and so caution is called for when it comes to protecting your holiday home in Portugal. 

Many will be asking, how can I protect my holiday home? We are here to help with some advice from Prosegur Alarms who have drawn up a list of tips to keep your holiday home in Portugal safe when empty. 

Lock all doors and windows

This is the most obvious step, but also one of the easiest to put into practice, so it is important not to forget about it. Before leaving, whether for longer or shorter periods of time, lock your doors and windows, even those on upper floors, as thieves will try everything to gain access.

Avoid posting your location on social media

In the age of information sharing, it's sometimes hard to resist posting our every move on social media. However, you never know who this information will reach, especially if we have a public profile or many followers, so it's really best not to share your travel plans or photos that show where you are.

Get a security camera

Surveillance or security cameras are an extra guarantee in your holiday home, especially since nowadays they can be monitored from a distance. So, through an app on your smartphone, you can easily can see who is near your house or at the main entrances, or even get notified when there is movement detected.

Install automatic light sensors

Installing lights with automatic timer both inside and outside your home can be an option to keep the house illuminated, even at night. That way, it makes it look like the house is inhabited, even when you are away.

Ask a neighbour to collect the post and water the plants

If you know the neighbours at your Portuguese holiday home and they are people you trust, it may make sense to ask them to keep an eye on the house during your absence. They can collect the post so that it doesn't accumulate outside, and other things like visiting from time to time to water the plants can transmit the idea that the house is inhabited.

Use reinforced locks 

As well as locking doors and windows, consider reinforcing main gates and garage doors with padlocks or locks that only open with security codes.

Hide valuables

Store your most important and high-value items in safes, garages or other places that are more difficult to access. Also don't forget to hide relevant documents, such as personal identification documents or financial information, amongst others.

Install an alarm system

The possibilities nowadays are endless, but investing in a security system with an alarm connected to a 24h central station, which also alerts the police in case of occurrence, can help to avoid huge expenses if there is a robbery in your Portuguese holiday home. Nowadays, these systems can be controlled remotely via a smartphone, for greater comfort for the user. Placing a sign informing that the house is protected by CCTV can also dissuade criminals from committing a crime.