Our home should be the place where we feel safest. It’s where we make treasured memories with our loved ones and secure our most personal possessions. Over the past year and a half, home gained a whole new meaning, with many of us viewing our homes in a more positive light than ever before.
According to our latest research*, a third (32%) of us became more security conscious over lockdown. But as restrictions ease and in the excitement of heading back outdoors to take a long-awaited holiday, attend family reunions or return to the office, many of us have become relaxed about protecting what matters most at home, with 42% of Brits not considering home security since restrictions were lifted.
That's why we've partnered with actor, footballer and TV personality Vinnie Jones, to help make sure you don't get complacent with your home security this winter.
As we begin to spend more time away from home, it’s important that we take a moment to review our home security, so we can have peace of mind and continue to protect what matters most. In fact, our research revealed some interesting stats, including:
- Six in ten (60%) work-from-homers worry about the safety of their work devices at their property
- Four in ten (41%) have cancelled plans since restrictions were lifted to avoid leaving pets home alone
- Losing a sense of security at home is the main thing that concerns Brits most following a break-in
Staying connected
90% of Brits feel their homes are safe as lockdown restrictions ease, thanks to new and improved relationships with neighbours during lockdown, and the comfort and trust that those next door would keep an eye on their home while they're away, as well as new and existing security systems.
"It's important to stay connected to your home, because that's your safe place, your sanctuary, your castle. It's just something you have to keep on top of." Vinnie says. With many of us spending more time out and about, it's crucial to keep your home safe and protected so you can focus on other things.
Our personal devices, like phones, tablets and laptops, are more valuable than we realise, holding important information such as addresses and financial details, useful documents, and sentimental photos, videos and memories, making them much harder to replace. A third (33%) of Brits would be worried that this personal information would be vulnerable if their devices were stolen, and a similar proportion (31%) are concerned about the loss of meaningful documents or photos. We can reduce the worry of device theft by taking small steps, like keeping valuables out of sight or locked away for added peace of mind.
Securing the home office
As we transition out of lockdown, WFH is here for the longer term. Swapping the corporate office for your living room means that more than half of workers (56%) are keeping work devices in their property, with three in five (60%) concerned about keeping these devices safe, especially when they are out and about.
As a result, nearly a third (31%) have invested in additional security measures, so that they can enjoy that time away from work, without the worry.
Protecting what matters most
Vinnie also shared his experience of burglary, to help others to consider their home security and to protect what matters most:
“I popped out for 10 minutes to go to my local chippy and when I came back, I found four guys trying to run off with my car and TV. It shows that anyone can be a victim of burglary, even me. That’s why I’m working with Ring to raise awareness of the importance of keeping your home safe, wherever you are in the world. Away or close by, you need security.”
Half of Brits (49%) would buy home security devices because they want peace of mind and a sense of security. With the important role home plays in our sense of safety and security, it’s essential we continue to protect the space we've created to house our loved ones, personal possessions, and furry friends.
*Research commissioned by Ring and conducted by Opinium Research, who surveyed 2,000 nationally representative UK adults (18+) between 7-10 September 2021.