A practical checklist for Sunshine Coast homeowners heading away during these school holidays — so you can actually relax while you’re gone.
Easter on the Sunshine Coast means one thing for most families: time to get away. Whether you’re heading south to visit family, escaping to the hinterland for a few days, or jumping on a flight for a longer break, the school holidays are one of the busiest getaway periods of the year.
They’re also one of the busiest periods for opportunistic break-ins.
It’s not a reason to stay home — but it is a reason to take 30 minutes before you leave to make sure your home isn’t an easy target. The good news is that most of the things that deter burglars are simple, practical, and either free or very affordable.
Here’s the checklist the team at North Coast Blinds & Security recommends for every homeowner heading away these Easter holidays.
Why the Easter Break Is a High-Risk Period for Home Security
Burglars are opportunistic. They look for easy targets — homes that are visibly unoccupied, poorly lit, and have accessible entry points with weak or no security screens.
The Easter school holidays create the perfect conditions: long weekends, extended absences, reduced neighbourhood foot traffic in some streets, and — for many homes — the same routine vulnerability that exists year-round, just with no one home to notice it.
Queensland Police consistently report spikes in property crime during school holiday periods. Taking even a few basic steps before you leave significantly reduces your home’s appeal as a target and significantly increases the chance that a would-be intruder moves on to an easier option.
The 5-Point Home Security Checklist
1. Lock Every Entry Point — Including the Ones You Usually Leave Open
This sounds obvious, but it’s the step most often skipped. Before you leave, do a deliberate walk-around of every entry point in your home and check that it’s secured:
- Front and rear doors — locked, deadbolted, and (if you have a security screen) the screen door locked independently of the main door
- Sliding doors — locked at the handle and with a secondary lock or security bar in the track. A standard sliding door handle lock is not sufficient on its own; the door can often be lifted off the track or forced open
- Windows — closed and locked, including any you habitually leave on the latch for ventilation
- Garage door — fully closed and locked, with the internal access door to the house also secured
- Side gates and fences — latched and padlocked where possible
One in three home break-ins in Australia occurs through an unlocked door or window. Locking everything properly before you leave is still the single most effective thing you can do.
The upgrade: If your sliding doors or entry doors only have a basic lock, an Easter away is a good reminder that it may be time to look at a proper security screen. Crimsafe security screens and doors add a formidable secondary barrier that a standard flyscreen or glass door simply doesn’t provide — and they’re there protecting your home every day, not just when you’re away.
2. Make Your Home Look Occupied
A home that looks empty is far more attractive to a burglar than one that shows signs of activity. A few simple steps can make your property look lived-in even when you’re not there:
- Use timer plugs on one or two internal lights so they come on and go off at realistic times each evening — not all at once, and not all night
- Ask a neighbour to collect your mail and any deliveries. A letterbox stuffed with envelopes and parcels sitting on the front step is a clear signal that no one’s home
- Don’t announce your trip on social media until you’re back — holiday posts are essentially a public notification that your home is unoccupied
- Leave a car in the driveway if you have more than one vehicle, or ask a trusted neighbour if they’d be happy to park in front of your home occasionally
- Hold off on the bins — leaving your bins out on the kerb for days after collection is another visible tell
None of these cost a thing. Together they create a credible impression of normal activity that significantly reduces your risk profile.
3. Secure Your Windows — With More Than Just a Latch
Windows — particularly ground-floor and side-access windows — are one of the most common entry points for intruders. A standard window latch offers minimal resistance. If a window can be reached without being visible from the street, it’s a risk.
Before you leave, check every accessible window is:
- Fully closed and latched — not on the first-notch ventilation setting
- Fitted with a secondary lock if you have them (keyed window locks are a cheap, effective upgrade)
- Covered by a security screen if it’s a ground-floor or easily accessible window
Window security screens — particularly those using the same Tensile Tuff® mesh system Crimsafe — make a ground-floor window a genuinely difficult entry point. If your home doesn’t currently have security screens on accessible windows, it’s worth considering as a longer-term investment in your home’s security posture.
One important consideration for households with children: if you’re upgrading window security screens, ask about the Crimsafe Safe-S-Cape® emergency exit option. This allows a screen to be opened from inside without a key — critical for fire exit — while still providing full security from the outside.
4. Review Your Outdoor Lighting and Visibility
Darkness is a burglar’s best friend. Poorly lit entry points — side gates, rear access, the space between your home and a fence — make it easy to work unobserved.
Before you head off:
- Test your sensor lights — replace any dead globes and check that motion sensors are positioned correctly to cover the access points you care about most
- Trim back overgrown plants and hedges near entry points — dense foliage provides concealment for someone attempting to force a door or window
- Consider a simple, inexpensive timer on a front outdoor light or a light visible from the street for the duration of your absence
If you’re going away for more than a few days, a smart home plug or a basic timer is a worthwhile few dollars spent. Solar-powered sensor lights for side paths and rear access areas are also an affordable upgrade that requires zero wiring.
5. Tell Someone You Trust — and Consider a Monitored Solution
The final step is one many people overlook: making sure someone knows you’re away and has agreed to keep an eye on things.
- Tell a trusted neighbour your dates and leave them a contact number. Ask them to call you (or the police) immediately if they notice anything unusual
- Check your home insurance is current and that it covers contents for the full value of what you have — this is also a good time to photograph valuable items and store those images in cloud storage
- Consider a monitored alarm or camera system if you don’t already have one. Basic smart cameras with app notifications are now very affordable and can provide real-time visibility of your home while you’re away
- Don’t hide a spare key outside — under a mat, in a pot plant, above a door frame. If you know where to look, so do burglars. Leave a spare key with a trusted person instead
The Bigger Picture: Home Security Beyond the Holidays
Running through this checklist before Easter is valuable — but the reality is that home security is a year-round consideration, not just something to think about when you’re heading away.
The Sunshine Coast has grown significantly in recent years. With that growth comes increased population density, more transient visitors, and the same opportunistic property crime risks that exist in any busy coastal region. Investing in quality security products — screens, doors, shutters, locks — is the kind of home improvement that works for you every single day, not just during school holidays.
If this checklist has highlighted gaps in your home’s security, we’re happy to help. North Coast Blinds & Security offers free measure and quote appointments across the Sunshine Coast, and our team can walk you through the right products for each entry point in your home.
Quick Pre-Departure Checklist
Print this out and tick it off before you leave:
- [ ] All doors locked — main locks and security screens
- [ ] Sliding door track secured with secondary lock or bar
- [ ] All windows fully closed and latched
- [ ] Garage door down and internal access door locked
- [ ] Side gates latched and padlocked
- [ ] Timer plugs set on at least one internal light
- [ ] Neighbour asked to collect mail and keep an eye out
- [ ] No holiday posts published on social media until you return
- [ ] Sensor lights tested — dead globes replaced
- [ ] Trusted neighbour or friend has your contact details
- [ ] Home insurance confirmed current and adequate
- [ ] Spare key retrieved from outside hiding spot
Have a wonderful Easter break — and come home to find everything exactly as you left it.
Frequently Asked Questions About Home Security During Holidays
What is the most common way burglars enter a home?
Research consistently shows that the most common entry points are front and rear doors (particularly unlocked or poorly secured sliding doors), followed by ground-floor windows. The majority of break-ins are opportunistic — the intruder tries a door or window, finds it unsecured or easy to force, and enters. Homes with visible security screens, good lighting, and signs of occupancy are far less likely to be targeted.
Are security screens worth it for home security?
Yes — quality security screens like Crimsafe create a genuine physical barrier that is tested to exceed Australian Standards for impact, knife-shear, and jemmy resistance. A standard flyscreen offers essentially no security value. A Crimsafe screen at an entry point or accessible window means an intruder cannot simply cut through or force the screen to access the door or window behind it.
How do smart locks help when I’m away from home?
Smart locks allow you to monitor and control access to your home remotely. You can receive alerts, grant temporary access to a trusted person (such as a neighbour checking in), and confirm that doors are locked via an app.
Should I post about my holiday on social media?
Security experts consistently advise against posting holiday content in real time on public social media profiles. Even with privacy settings, real-time location sharing effectively advertises that your home is unoccupied. The simple rule: post the photos when you get back.
Is it worth getting a home security assessment before the holidays?
If you have concerns about your home’s security — particularly around entry points, window screens, or door locks — yes. North Coast Blinds & Security offers free measure and quote appointments that include a walkthrough of your entry points and a recommendation on the most appropriate products for your situation. There’s no obligation, and it can give you genuine peace of mind heading into the holiday period.
Ready to Upgrade Your Home Security Before Easter?
If this checklist has highlighted any gaps — particularly around security screens, external shutters, or door security — now is the time to address them. North Coast Blinds & Security offers a free measure and quote with no obligation across the Sunshine Coast.
Call us on (07) 5456 2199 or get in touch via our website to book your appointment before the Easter break.
North Coast Blinds & Security — Licensed Crimsafe Manufacturer and window furnishings specialist, Sunshine Coast. Located at 5/6 Kerryl Street, Kunda Park QLD 4556.
Open Monday–Thursday 8:00am–4:00pm, Friday 8:00am–2:00pm.