Every winter, thousands of GTA homeowners head somewhere warmer, leaving their homes empty for weeks or months. It is a well-earned escape, but an empty home is exactly what an opportunistic burglar is looking for. A house with no lights, no cars in the driveway, and snow piling up unshovelled signals that no one is home, and no one will be for a while. At GTA Security Bars, we want snowbirds and winter travellers to leave with peace of mind. Here is how to secure your home before you go.
Why an Empty Home Is a Target
Burglars prefer empty homes for an obvious reason: no one is there to catch them, and no one will notice a break-in for a long time. A home that is clearly unoccupied for an extended period gives an intruder time to work and time before the theft is even discovered. Winter makes this worse, because the signs of absence, unshovelled snow, no tire tracks, dark windows night after night, are so visible. Physical barriers that stop entry in the first place are the strongest response, which is why so many travellers add window security bars before a long trip.
Windows Are the Weak Point When You’re Away
When you are home, you hear a window being forced. When you are away, no one does. That changes the calculation entirely. Ground-floor and basement windows become the preferred entry, because they are accessible, often hidden from the street, and can be worked on without an audience.
| Vulnerable point | Why it matters when away |
|---|---|
| Basement windows | Hidden, low, rarely secured |
| Ground-floor rear windows | Out of sight of neighbours |
| Side windows | Screened by fences or landscaping |
| Sliding patio doors | Can be forced quietly |
| Attached garage windows | Overlooked entry to the home |
Basement windows deserve special attention, since they are the most overlooked and among the easiest to force. Proper basement window security closes one of the most common entry points before you leave.
Layer Your Winter Security
Security bars are the physical barrier, but they work best alongside habits that disguise an empty home. Use timers on interior lights so the house appears occupied in the evenings. Arrange for someone to shovel the driveway and walk, since unshovelled snow is a giveaway. Stop mail and flyer delivery, or have someone collect them, so nothing piles up. Ask a trusted neighbour to keep an eye on the property. These steps make the home look lived-in, while the bars make it genuinely hard to enter.
Do It Before You Go, Not After
The one piece of timing advice that matters: arrange your security before you leave, not after a scare. Adding physical protection to your windows and doors is a project best completed while you are still home to plan it, so you depart with the barriers already in place. Walking your home now, identifying the vulnerable windows, and hardening them means you can enjoy your winter away without wondering what is happening back home. It is also worth remembering that a determined intruder who does get through an unsecured window has weeks of unhurried time inside an empty house, which is precisely why prevention matters more when you are away than at any other time. The barrier that turns a break-in into too much trouble is the one thing that works whether or not anyone is watching the home.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are empty homes such a target in winter?
Because no one is there to catch a burglar and no one will notice a break-in for a long time. Winter makes absence obvious through unshovelled snow, no tire tracks, and dark windows night after night, signalling the home is empty.
Which windows are most at risk when I’m away?
Basement windows and ground-floor rear or side windows, because they are accessible, often hidden from the street, and can be forced without anyone hearing, especially when the home is unoccupied for weeks.
Do security bars help more than an alarm when I’m away for months?
They complement each other. Bars are a physical barrier that stops entry in the first place, which is especially valuable when a response to an alarm could be delayed and no one is home to react.
What else should I do before leaving for the winter?
Use light timers, arrange snow shovelling, stop or collect mail, and ask a neighbour to watch the property, so the home looks occupied. Combine those habits with physical window and door protection.
Leave With Peace of Mind
Securing your windows and doors before a winter away lets you travel without worry. GTA Security Bars can harden your home before you go.
Call GTA Security Bars at 647.969.3759, or visit #6, 101 Planchet Rd, Concord, ON. We serve the Greater Toronto Area.
