Do you have summer vacation on the brain? We don’t blame you! With warmer weather fast approaching, it’s hard not to start thinking about where and what you want to do for summer vacation. Even with all the excitement of planning your vacation, it’s important to think about your home while you are away. Nothing is worse than coming back from a great vacation to find your home vandalized and your possessions stolen. We have all heard horror stories of this happening, but it seems unimaginable that it would actually happen to you. Unfortunately, no one is immune, but here are just a few simple steps you can take to protect your home while you’re away:
Stop Mail
One of the biggest indicators alerting burglars that you’re away from your home is having a pile of mail in your mailbox or doorstep. Nothing throws up a red flag than a cluster of unopened mail. If you know you are going to be away for an extended amount of time or even a week, alert USPS that you’ll be away and they will hold your mail for you and you can pick it up safely when you get back from your vacation.
Have a Buddy
Having a friend or family member watch over your home while you are away is always a great idea. When you have someone you trust that is familiar with your home, it can give you peace of mind knowing your home is being watched over. If anything seems off, they’ll be more inclined to notice.
Install Timers
If someone is watching your home, they’ll notice when none of your lights have turned on or off, and that there is no sound coming from your home. This is a big indicator for intruders to realize that no one is home. One of the best ways to make it seem like you are home is to have a timer installed on your electronic devices. Most home appliance stores will carry them. You’ll be able to time when your lamps, radios, and TVs turn on and off as if you’re home.
Beware of Social Media
While going on vacation is exciting, sharing your trip on social media while you’re away can potentially be a bad idea. If your profile isn’t private, dedicated burglars will keep an eye out for those out of town posts as a cue to break in. Best practice is to wait until you are back home to share your adventures with all your social media friends. Avoid checking into places, sharing photos on location, and telling the social media world that you’ll be gone ahead of time.
Remove Spare Key
Many of us have a spare key hidden around our home in case we lose our keys or have an emergency. Before you leave, make sure that you remove that spare key from your hiding spot. You never know who has been watching. Once you arrive back home, as an extra safety precaution, find a new hiding spot for your spare key. If someone has been watching your home, one of the first places they’ll look for is where you used to store the key.
Taking these simple extra precautions before you leave on vacation, will not only give you peace of mind, but will also help deter any home intrusions while you’re gone. If you are still concerned about keeping your home protected, come see us at Security Source! From locks to security cameras, we have everything you need to keep your home and belongings safe.