Winter can be grim enough without the added risk of your house being burgled. According to the Gardaí, residential burglary tends to be higher in winter, with international evidence suggesting that a surge in burglaries of up to 20 per cent is likely to arise over the winter months.

This article was featured in our Home & Garden Autumn 2025 supplement – you can read the full supplement here!

BY PAULA BURNS

One of the contributing factors to the increase is, of course, the darker evenings. With the sun setting earlier and rising later, there’s more time for the culprits to break in under the shadow of darkness.

While figures like this can send shivers up your spine, there are steps you can take to make your home more secure and less vulnerable to break-ins.

Speaking with Sergeant Morgan O’Sullivan of the Crime Prevention Unit at Bandon Garda Station, his main advice is that the more obstacles in place, the more likely the thieves are to walk away.

‘Slowing down burglars is the key. The longer they are at a location, the more likely they are to be detected. So, increasing the time it takes them to get in and finding items to steal will increase the chance of them leaving with nothing or being apprehended.’

According to Sergeant O’Sullivan, there are a number of precautionary steps you can put in place around your home to get the thieves off the scent.

‘There are a few key steps that you can take to ensure your home is more secure. They would include locking all windows and doors. To have timer switches on your lights for the darker evenings, to ensure the house looks occupied,’ advises Sergeant O’Sullivan, ‘Make sure your external lighting is working. The dusk-to-dawn lights are very effective, or if you have motion sensor lights, ensure they are working.’

In Sergeant O’Sullivan’s experience, light is not a burglar’s friend. The less chance they have of working in the dark to break into a property, the better.

‘All the small things add up to make your house more secure. If you have to be out at night, make the house look occupied,’ says Sergeant O’Sullivan.

‘Ensure that the outside area is lit up. The light is not their friend. Take steps to ensure the house appears occupied; an occupied house is less likely to be broken into.’

Sargeant O’Sullivan goes on to advise that once you’re in your home, keep house keys and car keys away from sight. He recommends storing them away from windows, where they can be seen and in a safe place. He also emphasises the importance of locking your doors and car doors.

‘In recent years, we have seen burglaries taking place in houses where there have been unlocked doors and also unlocked car doors. This has been a feature in some burglaries that we have attended,’ he explains.

When it comes to extra security, Sergeant O’Sullivan is in favour of using modern technology as an extra layer to keep your house secure.

‘If you have an alarm, use it. Hardware such as CCTV and a ring doorbell works as a deterrent. It’s good to layer them on top of other technology, such as an alarm,’ he explains. ‘It’s all about layering up your security with technology and the other steps, such as locking doors, that will make your property more secure.’

Following on from Sergeant O’Sullivan’s advice, there are a number of CCTV and alarm systems on the market that you can choose from.

More local companies, such as Sentinel Security, provide CCTV and alarm monitoring services that add that extra layer of security to your technology.

A monitored system provides you with the peace of mind that comes with 24-hour monitoring.

Even if you’re away from the house and the alarm is activated, the security company will contact the keyholders and the Gardaí.

Alongside the monitored alarm system, you can also add a monitored CCTV system.

This will allow you to view your property when you are away from home, or you can view the perimeter of the property from inside the house.

If you’re on a budget, Ring video doorbells are a popular choice.

They can be bought online and are easy to install. They work on a motion sensor, and the footage can be accessed from a phone.

The HD video with colour night vision provides a clearer picture of what’s happening at your front door, even in the dark, and the head-to-toe view offers a broader view.

The things to remember are that the more barriers a thief encounters, the less likely they are to break in.

Be vigilant by ensuring your home looks occupied at all times.

If you are on holiday, make sure to have your mail collected by a neighbour or family member and refrain from posting on social media.

If you can layer on additional security with extra technology, do so.

As with anything, if you spot anything suspicious, don’t hesitate to contact the Gardaí. It’s always better to be safe than sorry.