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29 March 2024

How safe is your Dubai home for summer?

If you own or rent a villa, ensure your car is locked car and parked in your driveway to deter anyone from thinking the residents are away from home. (File)

Published
By Bindu Rai

If you are leaving Dubai for holidays, how summer savvy are you to follow through with these safety checks for your home?

Last year, Dubai Police received 289 cases of house burglaries, according to a top official. This, however, was a decrease from 333 in 2014.

Major-General Khamis Mattar Al Mazeina, Commander-in-Chief, Dubai Police, said at the time that security programmes rolled out by authorities and practical measures implemented by homeowners was helping reduce the incidents of robberies and thefts, which has been a concern of families when they travel.

Yet, how many residents are able to register, or follow through with a checklist to keep their precious belongings safe?

Emirates 24|7 puts together a guide of dos and don’ts when you pack up for the vacation:

Do…

- Lock all those doors and windows carefully. If you own or rent a villa, also remember to lock those garages and sheds as well.

- Invest in a high quality knob-in-lock set with a dead latch mechanism so door knobs cannot be accessed easily.

- For added security, especially for villa owners, an intruder alarm system or CCTV camera is something to consider.

- Remember to stop the newspaper and weekly water delivery. In addition, if there is a friendly neighbour to rely on, have them collect any advertising circulars left at your gate or doorstep.

-  If you own or rent a villa, ensure your car is locked car and parked in your driveway to deter anyone from thinking the residents are away from home.

- If possible, set up automatic timers to indoor and outdoor lights, as well as to a radio or television in the home.

- Tell a neighbour or relative where you can be reached at all times.

- Dubai Police officials say, as an added measure, employ a safe in the house or purchase an external locker to keep all your jewellery and cash.

- Register your home with Dubai Police for the days you are travelling. The Dubai Police Housing Security Programme allows holidaymakers to send across details of their impending travel to authorities, complete with contact numbers of the inhabitants.

Police officials will patrol the area and on seeing anything untoward, they will immediately inform the owners. The service is available via the Dubai Police website.

Don’t…

- If you have a phone answering machine at home, make sure your message does not tell callers you are away on vacation.

- Don’t post anything on social media sites alerting users that you are heading out of town and away from home for an extended period.

- Flying down to see family members for the holidays, many expats fill suitcases with coming home gifts for the loved ones.

However, as you do this, do not place those empty boxes from expensive gifts such as laptops, iPads, televisions out on the street with your garbage.

Security experts says, this could indicate to burglars on the prowl that you have something worth stealing.