Secure Your Home when on Vacation
Your home is your greatest asset. Think about it. Throughout our lives we spend time working to make money and then spending that money as consumers. When we consume material goods, those items end up in our homes. When on vacation, these items become ‘at-risk’ assets. Strolling individuals with poor intent constantly comb neighborhoods in search for vacant properties. See how to secure your home when on vacation. In the meantime, here are a list of items a burglar will look for on the exterior of your property:
Un-mowed lawn
Stacks of mail and newspapers
Lack of lighting usage
Unlocked garage entryways
So how do you secure your home when on vacation?
We will start with the exterior and then work ourselves inside. Prior to going on a vacation you should be sure to have plans in place for the following:
HOW TO SECURE THE OUTSIDE OF YOUR HOME WHEN ON VACATION:
DON’T LET YOUR YARD ADVERTISE YOUR ABSENCE.
Ensure someone you trust is available to mow the lawn. If the trip is for a week, mow it yourself prior to leaving. If it is an extended vacation, arrange for a lawn care service or
someone you know to provide up-keep.
JUNK MAIL COULD BE YOUR DOWNFALL!
Place a hold on all mail and newspaper delivery. This can be done by contacting the USPS and your newspaper carrier
THE LIGHTS ARE ON BUT NO-ONES HOME.
Purchase relatively cheap timers to ensure your lights turn on and off at designated times or utilize lights that rely on solar detection.
HMMM THIS FAKE ROCK, OR MAYBE UNDER THIS PLANTER?
Remove any and all spare keys left around the exterior of the home. Burglars aren’t stupid.
PADLOCKS HAVE A SECURITY FLAW…THEY’RE PADLOCKS
Ensure the garage is secured with a good locking device. Padlocks are easy to pick with little knowledge and even easier to break with two wrenches…trust me!
HOW TO SECURE THE INSIDE OF YOUR HOME WHEN ON VACATION:
THERE’S A TIME AND PLACE FOR THAT!
Place timers in various outlets that supply power to light fixtures and lamps. This provides an illusion that someone is occupying the property.
THE SHOCKING TRUTH!
For your own safety, disconnect any high item electronics. Storm damage causing power surges can have just as much damage impact as a burglary.
BREAKING NEWS: I’M OUT OF TOWN…ROB ME!
Stop all desire to post your whereabouts on social media or plans of your upcoming vacation. If you announce to the world this information it violates all practices of learning how to secure your home when on vacation!
HOME SECURITY MONITORING SERVICE; GET YOU MONEY’S WORTH?
If you have a security alarm company monitoring your dwelling, alert them to the fact that you will be gone during a set time-frame. Make sure you schedule a time that they can come and test your alarm prior to your vacation. I recommend a test of your system annually. You may also wish to ensure your contact information is up-to-date with them along with your emergency points of contacts.
ARE YOU SNITCHING TO THE 5-0?
Let local PD know of your plans and whereabouts, as well as, a good contact number for you. Depending on manpower, they may increase their patrols past your residence.
WHERE THE MAGIC HAPPENS
Secure your valuable items! According to most studies, burglars tend to travel to the master bedroom first. It is in our nature to store our most personal items in a location we feel the safest. Change it up. Find a location that seems like there would be nothing of value. Ensure you utilize a high quality safe for storing items such as jewelry and important documents or laptops (digital information is just as valuable as physical property). For extra safety you could open up a safety deposit box at your local banking branch to store items such as wills, certificates of birth, Social Security cards, etc.,.
DID YOU ORDER AN INDOOR POOL?
Save your budget from theft: turn down your thermostat when on vacation. Keep it high enough pipes don’t freeze if during the winter months. Along the same lines, ensure your pipes are insulated prior to vacation. Nothing ruins that relaxing time when you come home to an unexpected indoor swimming pool.
WHAT ABOUT THE CURTAINS?
Some say close the curtains while other say don’t. The truth is that you should leave them in the state they normally are. Anything out of the ordinary may trigger a burglar to the fact that something has changed in you dwelling and opportunity has arose.
WAIT…BEFORE YOU LEAVE!!!
The final step to secure your home when on vacation is to ensure you lock all doors and latch all windows! This may seem obvious but, 30% of burglars just simply walk into the front door which was left unlocked!
If you have sliding glass doors you may also add security by placing a rod on the track to keep it from being pried open.
