Be Burglar-Safe While You Vacation
By Christine H.
Over the holiday, many of us travel. And none of us want to host a Home Alone-type situation at our house while we’re away. The security of your home is always a concern, whether you’re home or away, whether you have a security system or not. You’re going to want to enjoy the trip and be in the moment, rather than stressing about the things that could go wrong back home.
Here are some tips to help you keep your home and family secure from burglars.
Have Someone Check In
While you’re away, it’s nice to still have it seen that people are coming and going. Simply having a car parked in front of your house now and then can discourage burglars looking for easy hits over the holidays. Even if you don’t need a petsitter, invite a neighbor or friend to look in on your house now and then. Collect the mail, change the lights around, clear away any mailers or newspapers left on the door. Encourage them to sit back and relax in your home, too.
Check All Points of Entry
You probably obsess over whether or not the front door is locked when you leave home. However, how well do you check other points of entry? Do you have a window that’s usually left ajar, perhaps over the kitchen sink? Or a pet door? How about this one: is your garage secure? Most people don’t think about that one, and it’s often the easiest doorway to breach. For example, some burglars have a way of tricking the motion-sensitive mechanism from within your garage in order to gain entry. This article has some great tips for making sure your garage is secure.
In addition, you should do a personal perimeter sweep of your home. Walk around the exterior and see what your weak points are. There are so many things that we’d never notice until we see it from a different perspective.
Remote Security Technology
It might seem like a sci-fi-type of thing that’s outside of your reach, but the truth is that smart-home technology that’s linked to your
phone is amazingly accessible and affordable now. You’re able to check on whether the doors are locked, and tune into security cameras from anywhere in the world. This can give you peace of mind while you’re away, and alert you if anything goes awry.
Motion-Activated Lights
This is one very simple upgrade that you can make that will make a huge difference in your home’s security. Not only that, but it’s going to be extremely convenient for you when you’re coming home from a long day fumbling for keys as you approach the door. Motion-activated lights at your porch and on the sides of your home do a few really good things. First of all, the motion-activated aspect will make it seem like someone is home, even when you’re not. Secondly, the unexpected light will strike a very sudden bolt of fear into the heart of anyone with ill intentions. Thirdly, having motion-sensitive lights, rather than keeping your lights on all the time, will help you to save money and energy.
Move Expensive Things Out of View
Does your big, beautiful television screen sit enticingly in front of a picture window? Are computers and tablets sitting on your kitchen counter in plain view? Is it easy to see the best aspects of your home from the outside? You might want to think about changing that before you leave town. That way, it will seem less worthwhile to break into your home.
Have a Safe
Speaking of moving things out of view, you might want to put your most important valuables in a locked safe. Jewelry, cash, and important documents all fit easily into a small safe, and that way you know that even if someone does break into your home, they’ll be unable to access the most important things. Few, if any, casual burglars will have the time or resources to try to conquer even the most basic of safes. However, if you want to make sure you have a really good one, check out this article for some burglar-safe tips.
Display a Security System
Do you have a home security system? However basic it is, half of its purpose is to simply deter intruders. Stand-up signs in the lawn, and stickers at the window can let burglars know that they’re getting into more trouble than they might anticipate with that particular house. Make sure that these signs are easily visible. Additionally, you might want to install some obvious-looking cameras. These cameras don’t even have to be very good. Most burglars will move on to an easier target after seeing your security measures.
Majenica
"Time spent with cats is never wasted." ~ Sigmund Freud
