Home Safety While You’re Away
Summer is one of the biggest travel times of the year. Kids are out of school, the weather is warm, and everyone is in need of a little R&R. An empty home can be an easy target, and the last thing you want after a great vacation is to find your home broken into.
There are several things that you should do before you leave for a vacation.
Ask your neighbor to keep an eye on your home. If you are close with one of your neighbors, it is always a smart idea to let them know that you will be on vacation and for how long. That way they can be more aware if they see any strange activity, random cars, or suspicious people in your driveway. It is also a good idea to ask them to pull your trash to the curb and back ( if you are gone during trash pick up days) and to check your mail for you.
Use a timer for your lights. Set a few of the lamps around you home on a timer. Having a light that comes on when it starts to get dark, and turns off around bedtime, will help keep the appearance that someone is home.
Be careful when posting on social media. In today’s world, we all love to overshare our lives on social media. Posting photos while on vacation sends an instant message to the entire Facebook world, that you are out of town. Wait until you get back home to share all of your memories from your trip.
Keep your yard maintained. Either mow right before you plan to leave for vacation or make sure someone is coming to do it for you while you are away.
Keep a car in your driveway. A car in the driveway can be a sign that someone is home, or it will at least keep crooks from stopping at your home.
Turn on any alarms you might have. This might sounds silly, but don’t forget to use those wonderful home security systems while you are away! Also it’s a good idea to make sure that you have a sign in your front yard stating that you have a security system in place.