Switching on exterior lights around your property can help protect against burglary (Image: Getty)
Households across the UK are being urged to switch on outdoor lights around their property from this Saturday to protect their property over Easter.
The Easter holidays are now underway and with schools closed for a full two weeks, many families will be heading off for a short break. As such, Easter can present the ideal situation for opportunistic burglars to strike, as houses are left empty and there’s often reduced foot and vehicle traffic around estates as people make the most of both the long bank holiday weekend and the school holidays with trips away and family gatherings.
As such, home security experts recommend taking extra precautions to secure your property at this time of the year and it simply requires switching on exterior lights around your property.
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Motion-activated lighting at entrances, driveways and in gardens can help deter burglars from your home, while timer switches and smart lights indoors can also create the illusion that someone is home.
Matthew Harwood, home insurance expert at Confused.com, said: “With many households planning a short break over the Easter holidays, it’s important not to overlook home security.
“Our research shows that almost 100,000 home burglaries were reported across the UK in 2024, as well as 27,000 break-ins to sheds and garages. Yet despite the scale of the issue, nearly two thirds of burglaries remained unresolved and only 5% resulted in a charge.
“Cash, jewellery and bicycles continue to be among the most commonly stolen items, making it even more important to secure both your home and any outbuildings before you go away.
“Simple steps like double checking all doors and windows are locked, using timer switches for lights, activating alarms and asking a neighbour to collect post can help make your home look occupied. It’s also worth keeping holiday plans off social media until you return.”
When switching on outdoor lighting, security experts recommend setting timers for your lights to come on and to ensure this is activated around early evening as it starts to get dark.
Households are also advised to keep paths and doorways clear and visible to avoid any hiding spots and to consider using motion-activated security lights to deter potential intruders.
In its advice on protecting your home from burglary, West Yorkshire Police said: “Security lighting should operate either on a timer switch or permanently from dusk to dawn. For this to be economical and to avoid causing nuisance to neighbours, low energy lighting will be needed.
“This will normally be a Compact Fluorescent light, controlled by a photo-electric cell. (A light sensitive, dusk to dawn switch.) A 13 or 16 Watt unit with an opal cover, sited out of easy reach, will more than adequately illuminate the average rear garden with a gentle pleasant light – which has security, safety and social benefits. This form of lighting is very energy efficient and operates at an annual cost of around £6.
“A permanent night time light such as this plays its part in deterring the burglar from selecting that particular house, costs next to nothing to run, and helps to create a more reassuring environment.”