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How to keep your UAE home safe when travelling this summer

Abu Dhabi - Families are advised not share their travel plans on social media.

With several families travelling abroad this summer, authorities on Sunday (July 7) launched an awareness drive and reiterated their warning: Secure your homes against burglars.
As part of their 'Have a Safe Summer' campaign, the Abu Dhabi Police on Sunday rolled out activities that aim to remind residents of what they need to do to protect their homes before going on long holidays.
Authorities will start posting and sharing awareness messages on social media to reach out to communities, on top of organising councils and other events.
Brigadier Ahmed Saif Al Muhairi, head department of community security at the Abu Dhabi Police, said: "Families travelling for long summer holidays should properly guard their homes using reliable locks. They must also keep their valuable items, including cash and jewellery, in secure safe boxes or in banks to protect them from theft or damages.
"Residents should install surveillance cameras in their homes, as well as alarm monitoring systems that can alert security operatives and other homeowners of any suspicious movement inside or outside the house."
Authorities also advised families to request relatives or neighbours to remove newspapers and brochures from their doorsteps daily.
"In addition, they should leave some outdoor lights on to suggest that there's a sort of activity around the house," police said.
Families must not share their travel plans on social media, they added, as such information can make their home an easy target for burglars.
Earlier, the Abu Dhabi Police shared some tips on how residents can prevent potential fire incidents while they are away. These include making sure that all appliances are unplugged before travelling.
Six ways to 'burglar-proof' your home
>Put reliable locks in place
>Install surveillance cameras and monitoring systems that can alert authorities of any suspicious activity in your home
>Secure valuable items in banks or safe boxes
>Leave outdoor lights on
>Request a neighbour or a relative to remove newspapers and flyers from your doorstep daily
>Never share your travel plans on social media
ismail@khaleejtimes.com