Travelling can be an exciting adventure, but it also comes with its own risks, especially regarding the security of your home and belongings.
A recent incident involving an Australian couple highlighted a critical mistake many travellers might overlook when parking their car at the airport. This cautionary tale is a stark reminder to take extra precautions to safeguard your property while you’re away.
Like many Australians, Josh and Karen looked forward to a relaxing three-day holiday. Per their two-decade-long tradition, they parked their car in the Melbourne Airport long-term car park.
Little did they know this trip would end in a distressing discovery. Upon their return, they found their car vandalised, with windows smashed and a document inside the vehicle that led thieves directly to their Morning Peninsula home, which was left unoccupied.
‘Every single room was trashed completely, every cupboard, every drawer, they left no stone unturned,’ Josh recounted.
The thieves had taken not only valuable electronics, jewellery, and identifying documents but also items of irreplaceable sentimental value, such as a notepad containing the last written words of Karen’s late mother.
This harrowing experience has prompted the couple to urge fellow travellers to be vigilant about the information they leave in their cars.
On the day of their misfortune, other vehicles in the airport car park had also been targeted, a clear sign that this was not an isolated incident.
‘Be sure that you’re leaving no evidence of where you live around. Be sure to do your house up as tight as you can,’ Josh advised.
The surge in crime rates in Victoria, reaching a near-decade high with over 605,000 offences last year, underscores the importance of this advice.
Neighbourhood Watch has emphasised the danger of leaving clues in your car, such as your home address in your GPS (Global Positioning System).
‘If a crook gets your car, they now know where home is, they know that you’re not there, and they can use the car to get to your place,’ explained Neighbourhood Watch chief executive Bambi Gordon.
To better protect yourself and your home, consider the following tips:
1. Remove all identifying information from your vehicle before leaving it in long-term parking. This includes paperwork with your address and programmed home locations in your GPS.
2. Ensure your home appears occupied while you’re away. Use timers on lights, ask a neighbour to collect your mail, and consider a house-sitter if you’ll be gone for an extended period.
3. Give a spare set of keys to a trusted neighbour rather than hiding them outside, where criminals could find them.
4. Invest in a home security system and activate it before leaving. Visible security cameras can also be a deterrent.
5. Inform your local neighbourhood watch or police station if you’re going on holiday so that they can keep an extra eye on your property.
6. Ensure your home insurance is up to date and covers theft while you’re away.
Have you ever experienced a similar situation, or do you have additional tips for keeping your home safe while travelling? Share your stories and advice in the comments below. Your experience could help a fellow reader avoid a similar fate.
Also read: Your next trip from this airport could cost you $90 more
If people still want to keep voting in soft on crime leftist parties, then these are the repercussions.
I live in the ACT, which has the lowest police per population. The Labour and Greens parties were still voted back in last year, although only Labour is in charge this time. Both never said anything about increasing police before the election.
Both also decriminalised small quantities of hard drugs 2 years ago, with no increase to any services.
In summary, you keep voting these people in who don’t see law and order as a priority, then what do you expect? You need to suffer with the rest of us.