Unwelcome surprises

Holiday Home Security

The summer holiday season is over and now many holiday homes have been closed up and will sit vacant for several weeks if not months before the owners or other guests will return. It is a sickening feeling to return to your home in the Italian countryside hoping to enjoy all this area has to offer for a few days only to discover someone has broken into your home. In some cases when the house has been untended for an extended period this can mean everything in the house is gone…including appliances, cabinets and even plumbing and light fixtures.

There have been recent articles in the local papers about the high number of burglaries this past summer, of Italian and foreign owned homes, as many as one hundred twenty occurring locally. An increase in the occupation of “rustico” properties by vagrants has also been noted.

Unfortunately there are many things that make holiday homes target for thieves in that many times it is obvious that no one is coming back for a long time. The house is closed up, dark at night and all of the outdoor furniture is stored. It is no secret to Italians that certain groups of foreigners favor having a pool at their holiday home, thus making these properties obvious as to ownership.

If a burglar wants in a house, yours or a local’s, given enough time and opportunity they will get in. The key is to make your property less of a target, making the property secure while also not making it look vacant is the key. A few simple steps can be taken to increase your homes security.

*First of all get to know your neighbors, talk to them, give them a special gift and let them know who you are so they will take an interest in you. They are your first line of defense against burglars. You would be surprised how much they already know about you even if you have never met them but the personal touch is important in Italy.

*Assuming your holiday home is in the countryside then it is probably under the jurisdiction of the Carabinieri, stop by the office overseeing your location. Let them know who you are, where your house is and if you are not always there. They do make patrols and may be obliged to go by your location from time to time.

*Get plug-in timers from the brico for a few interior lights and leave on some exterior lights. Leave out some old shoes or clothes, make it look like someone one will be back. Have someone go by periodically and check on the house when it is vacant, have them change lighting sequences, move outside furniture…make it obvious that someone has been there and may be back soon.

*Exterior shutters can provide a sense of security unless the hinges are fastened from the outside, which means they can be removed from the outside. Can the hinges be changed to mount on the inside or can you change the types of fasteners that are used?

*Investigate the options for burglar alarms, antifurto; there are motion sensors, door and window sensors, sirens and other options. However, with these systems you will need someone who can respond, either a paid service or a caretaker.

You want to be able to enjoy your holiday home but not have it feel like a fortress, there are trade-offs that you must consider. You do want to do what you can to avoid that feeling of violation, Piceno Home Services can help you investigate the available options.