Going away for the school holidays? Tips for keeping your home safe
23 June 2008

As the school holidays approach New Zealand Post and Neighbourhood Support have put together a short list of easy tips to keep your home safe if you’re away for an extended period.

New Zealand Post’s new online service for households wanting their mail held while they are away from home is a new addition to help families keep their homes secure.

Holding mail is a security measure that protects against an overflowing letterbox advertising to potential burglars that you’re away. The new online service means you can organise it at the last minute and pay for the service online.

Neighbourhood Support recommends you have a neighbour stop by and collect unaddressed mail and circulars.

When you go on holiday

• Use timers on radios and lights.
  
• Cancel milk and newspaper deliveries and put your mail on hold.
  
• Have a neighbour stop by to collect unaddressed mail and circulars, and open and close curtains.
  
• Make sure your neighbours know where they can contact you in an emergency and when you will be home.
  
• Invite neighbours to use your driveway and clothesline to make it look like someone is home.
  
• Lock away garden tools and ladders that could be used by a would-be thief to gain access to your house.
  
• Make arrangements for family pets to be looked after.
  
• If you are away for more than a few days, arrange to have your lawns mown.
  
• Consider inviting a relative or friend to house sit for you.
  
• Whatever you do, don't leave a message on your answer phone that you away. Instead, clear the messages yourself or arrange to have a friend check them regularly for you.

The fee for an online hold is $5 a week, the same as that offered at PostShops, and the same three working day period is required to activate an online hold request. 

Household customers wanting to apply online for mail to be held can do so by visiting www.nzpost.co.nz/holdmymail

For more crime prevention tips see the Neighbourhood Support website www.ns.org.nz

Further information
Keith FitzPatrick
Media Communications Manager
New Zealand Post
04 4964566
027 453 9882