The home-coming mishaps emerged from a survey of 2,000 Brits by home security specialist Yale.
The poll revealed that the average homeowner experiences 24 panics a year while leaving their property unoccupied.
Leaving a window open was the most common fear, followed by leaving the heating on, the back or front door unlocked and a tap running.
Nigel Fisher, spokesperson for Yale, said: “Whenever we leave our homes empty it’s inevitable that we’ll worry about whether we’ve done all we can to ensure things are safe and secure.”
MOST COMMON PANICS LEAVING THE HOUSE
1. I left a window open
2. I’ve left the heating on
3. I left the back door unlocked
4. I left the front door unlocked
5. I’ve left a tap running
6. I left the lights on
7. I left all the curtains open
8. I left my laptop/valuables in view of the window
9. I haven’t sorted anyone to water the plants
10. I left the oven on
11. I left the shed unlocked
12. I left the TV on
13. I left the back gate open
14. I forgot to lock the car
15. I didn’t set the burglar alarm
16. I left a spare key outside
17. I haven’t sorted anyone to feed the pets
18. I left the radio on
19. I haven’t left the cat/dog door open
20. I left the iron on
HOMEOWNER’S RITUAL WHEN GOING AWAY
1. Check every window is shut and locked
2. Make sure the heating is turned off
3. Make sure there’s no food that will go off
4. Check every plug socket
5. Scan every room in the house
6. Generally tidy the house
7. Set a burglar alarm
8. Hide valuables in secret places
9. Check all the light switches
10. Open or close all the curtains
11. Take out the bins
12. Check the back gate is locked
13. Move all valuables away from view of the windows
14. Check the garage door is locked
15. Make sure the shed is locked
16. Make sure the plants are watered
17. Set the alarm
18. Empty the washing machine, dish washer and tumble dryer
19. Check there are no spare keys outside in hiding places
20. Call out ‘Goodbye’ as I leave the house, even if no one is in
What do you panic about?
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