But a Wagga community group is doing its bit to help residents prepare their properties.

Wagga Neighbourhood Watch, along with Wagga police, was at Bunnings Warehouse on Thursday night to give tips to the public about how to better secure their homes.

Neighbourhood Watch founding member Wayne Deaner said the event was all about giving fellow residents simple ideas to protect their property.

“Things like driveway alarms, monitors, CCTV, and shed and door alarms,” Mr Deaner said.

“And getting to know your neighbours and swapping phone numbers with them.

“Also talk to the police and become a member of Wagga Neigbourhood Watch.”

Mr Deaner said the group is planning to expand beyond its Facebook footprint to better serve the wider community.

“We’re looking at doing a monthly newsletter and giving residents important updates when needed,” he said.

The event covered cheaper security advice right through to installing closed-circuit television apparatus.

The team offered residents to replace normal screws on their car’s number plates with one-way security fasteners to help prevent your plates being stolen for a gold-coin donation.

With summer well and truly here, Mr Deaner offered some advice on keeping your home secure while cooling your home.

“A lot of people have evaporative airconditioning, which requires people to open doors and windows to work,” he said.

“What people can do is install special vents in the roof, or replace their manhole cover with a screen so the air circulates into the roof cavity, which also helps keep the house cooler.”

He also said using light timers and taking advantage of TV and radio settings to turn them on and off at different times gives the illusion that someone is at home and could deter a would-be thief.

“Or you could also pay someone to look after your house by doing things like collecting the mail and mowing the lawn.”