If you are planning on hitting the high street on Black Friday (November 25th), you won’t be alone, as many Brits are intending on making the most of the huge discounts available before the festive season.
Indeed, according to the Royal Mail, just 14 per cent of consumers will avoid buying a bargain on Friday.
Last year, £1.1 billion was spent on Black Friday – an increase from £810 million in 2014 – so sales could reach an unprecedented high this year. Indeed, Salmon Retail Consultancy predicts more than £5 billion worth of purchases will be made between Black Friday and Cyber Monday (November 28th), on which day all discounts go online.
With all the extra goods being purchased, homeowners need to be extra vigilant when it comes to storing their expensive items.
Those with double glazing in Tameside will have extra protection from their strong doors and windows, which will act as a deterrent for opportunistic burglars who are likely to see this weekend as a chance to steal costly belongings and Christmas gifts.
According to Towergate Insurance, thefts in November are particularly common and, last year, household burglaries soared by 20 per cent during the month.
Annie Plaskett from the insurance provider stated that many criminals will be attracted to houses that are “full of gifts and online bargains”.
She also noted that winter nights provide more opportunities for burglars as they can see more easily when houses are empty or not.
“Some simple security measures can be enough to make opportunistic criminals think twice before entering an empty home,” Ms Plaskett stated.
One of the simplest things to do is avoid telling friends and family what you bought in your Black Friday sales on social media, even if you are really pleased with your bargain. If anyone sees you’ve got really expensive items that are being stored in your house, they are more likely to target you.
Furthermore, avoid sharing details on your whereabouts on social networks, as this simply alerts potential thieves as to when you are out.
Homeowners should also keep their Christmas presents and newly purchased items away from the window or in an unattended car, as this makes your property more attractive to burglars.
Leaving spare keys by the back door, and keeping valuables close to windows or doors should also be avoided. Additionally, it is a good idea to draw your curtains at night-time and leave lights on to show you are indoors. If you are heading out or are away for a few days, use a timer switch that turns lights on inside the property so it looks as though the house is not empty.
Don’t forget to use a burglar alarm as well and make sure your home insurance policy is in date and covers you for your new goods.
It is not just this weekend you should be extra vigilant but throughout November and the festive period. One in five people claim they will do their Black Friday shopping on the internet, and last year’s discount event was the biggest day ever for online retail, with more than 7.4 million items sold by Amazon alone in 24 hours.
Therefore, many people will be expecting purchases to turn up in the days following the weekend. What’s more, with three in five saying the sales are a good opportunity to start their Christmas shopping early, the gifts could be stored at home throughout the festive period.
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