How to Keep Your House Secure While on Vacation
by Carl Ringwall
During summer trip season, use these suggestions to protect your property and to make your home appear occupied. These steps can discourage burglars and thieves.Install good locks on doors and windows. It is true that an burglar who really wants to get into your home probably can find some way, but most burglaries are opportunistic crimes committed by small time thieves. This means that the more difficult you make it for someone to break into your home, the more likely it is a thief will not chance the attempt. Install motion detector lighting and fake security cameras on the outside of your home, or consider real closed circuit TV. Use automatic timers on inside lights and day/night switches on outside lights. A week or so before you leave, set your timers so you can establish a routine while you are still home. There are even timers for sale that can vary the on/off times. Periodically have a stereo or TV turned on. Don't leave valuable items where they can be easily seen from the windows. Video cameras, televisions, stereos, gun collections, etc. should be stored in basements, closets, upstairs, or left with a family or neighbor. Equipping a storage closet with a good deadbolt lock makes a safe storage area too. Leave your drapes in the normal position. Have a friend close them at night and open them in the morning, or use sheers. Sheers help to obscure the view into the home without making it obvious, as drapes would, that no one is home. Put at least two lights and a television on automatic timers. Leave the bathroom light on with the door ajar to add to the impression that someone is home. Close and lock your garage doors to prevent someone from breaking in through the garage. Consider putting a lock in the track of overhead garage doors. Remember, attached garages that are not kept locked provide the means for an burglar to enter the garage and work in privacy at breaking into your house, perhaps even with the assistance of your own tools!Cover your garage windows to prevent anyone from seeing the inside of your garage and see whether your car is in there. Check your homeowner's insurance policy- does it provide theft coverage while you're staying in hotels and motels? It should. Don't let your travel plans become widely known. Try to arrange for a house-sitter, but if you can't, provide your immediate neighbors a card with your important information. If you are to be gone for an extended period, you may want a trusted person to:-Check the house every day for anything unusual. -Park in your drive or in front of the house. -Occasionally place trash in your trash can. -Mow the lawn. -Get your mail and paper. ----------Spy Gear - Cool Stuff Available at SecuritySafetySpy.com. Alarm Systems
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