When
you're getting ready for vacation, most of the time your family is
planning what to pack, the activities you want to do when you get
there, and the other exciting parts of getting away for a few days or
so. What you might forget to think about is how secure your home and
possessions will be while you're laying on the beach.
A
burglar's goal is to get into a house, steal valuables, and exit as
quickly as possible without being seen. A family away on vacation is
a perfect opportunity. Instead of stressing about your home being
burglarized, enjoy your travels in peace by following these pro tips
for securing your home:
Talk to Your Neighbors
Communicating
with your neighbors is key to making the neighborhood a fun and safe
place to live for everyone. Get to know the people living around you
so that you feel comfortable calling them before you go away to let
them know. Create relationships where, if one of you goes away for a
few days or so, then the others can keep an eye on the house. Here
are a few other tips for how you and your neighbors can help each
other out:
- Let them know that they can park in your driveway or have friends park there. This will make the house look lived in, and the more you can make it look like there are people coming and going, the less likely your house will be targeted.
- Grab the mail - A full mailbox indicates to burglars that there is no one home. Offer to get your neighbors' mail when they're on vacation, and they'll be likely to do the same for your family. A second option is to ask your post office to hold your mail for the days that you'll be gone, but sometimes it's easier to ask a friend or neighbor.
- Pay someone to plow your driveway or mow your lawn - An overgrown yard or snowy driveway tells potential thieves that no one has been home in a while.
- Ask a friend to check in - Have someone you trust stop by the house a few times while you're gone to check on everything.
- Report any suspicious behavior - Always have an open line of communication with each other. If anyone sees something shady in your neighborhood, have a system for telling each other and possibly notifying the police. It's better to be safe than sorry.
Tricking
a Thief
There
are a few other ways you can trick a burglar into thinking someone is
home. Remember that burglars aren't looking for a confrontation -
they want an easy job with little chance of getting caught.
- Set automatic lights - Put your lights (inside and outside) to go on and off a few times throughout the night and day, or install a motion sensor exterior light. Bonus tip: Check to see if any streetlights are out near your house. If so, contact your electricity company for a repair.
- Don't change too much about your home - A yard that normally has a hose, toys, tennis balls, and other things lying around should stay that way when you go on vacation. A would-be burglar might notice if suddenly your yard looks empty, the blinds are drawn, and the cars are out of the driveway.
- Hide all cash and valuables left at home - You should never leave anything valuable around the house where it's visible from the outside, but this is especially true while on vacation. Check out some of these unique secret safes you can test out.
- Install window break alarms - This won't necessarily make a burglar think you're home, but it will make them think twice about entering your home.
Keep
Quiet on Social Media
Tempted
to post a Facebook or Twitter photo of you and your family at the
airport en route to Mexico? Or post a status update about how you're
currently sitting on a beach in Spain with a strawberry daiquiri?
Don't do it. Burglars
use social media too.
Even
if your photo doesn't explicitly say you're away from your house,
anyone can look up the GPS coordinates of a posted photo. Try
it out on
one of your own photos to see for yourself.
Set Your Home Security System
If
you don't already have a home security system, you might want to
think about installing one while you plan for your vacation. Even if
you forget to do all of the above, and it's obvious that your family
has left for the week, a security system can deter burglars from
targeting your home. On the other hand, houses that don't have a
security system installed are 300%
more likely to
be broken into. Don't give burglars the green light to break into
your home.
Let
your alarm company know that you'll be away. You should also check
that you have a sign outside your home or in your window advertising
that your house is protected by a security system.
Implement
these pro tips and strategies the next time you go on vacation.
Whether you're getting away for a weekend or a two week vacation,
enjoy your trip worry-free!
No comments:
Post a Comment