Securing Your Home While You’re Away
Going on vacation or other travel for periods of time can leave your home vulnerable to intruders, even if you have an alarm system. Seasoned burglars know where in your home to search for valuables, and they can move quickly. They will sometimes enter a home while the security alarm is blaring and strobe lights are blinking, and make their escape before neighbors or the police have time to react.
Entertaining and educational, the Discovery Channel’s “It Takes A Thief” television show reveals valuable information on burglars and their victims. It reports that the highest percentage of burglaries occur during the summer months of July and August, when many people are away from their homes on vacation, or have left windows open for ventilation. It also states that about 30 percent of private homes in the U.S. have security systems. Homes without security systems are two to three times more likely to be broken into.
The Burglary Prevention Council (BPC), a national organization dedicated to the prevention of residential burglaries, reports that these days, just about everyone has a relative or acquaintance who has been burglarized, and that statistics indicate that three out of four U.S. homes will be burglarized in the next 20 years. According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the average property loss in a burglary exceeds $1,000, not to mention the damage from vandalism.
Vacations provide burglars with plenty of time to enter your home, remove even large items and search leisurely for hidden valuables. If you are planning a vacation, take precautions to protect your home while you are away.
Enhancing the security of your residence is much easier that you think. Keep in mind that the time you spend now may save you thousands of dollars in the long run.
The key is to create an illusion of everyday activity. The BPC offers this checklist to make it appear that someone is home, which is your first defense against burglary.
*Ask your police department to check your home and patrol your neighborhood more closely while you are away.
* Stop mail and newspaper deliveries, or have a trusted neighbor collect them while you are away so that they do not accumulate.
* Ask your neighbor to remove any advertising flyers that are deposited in your mailbox or around your door, driveway or lawn.
* Secure all doors, windows, pet entrances and garage doors.
* Transfer valuables to a safety deposit box.
* Place timers on indoor lamps and appliances to illuminate your home at night, and set timers to turn on radios and televisions randomly during the day.
* Check that no bulbs are burned out on your indoor lamps, outdoor lighting fixtures or low voltage lighting system.
* Arrange to have your landscaping continue, or your driveways and walks shoveled.
* Keep some shades and blinds up and curtains open to maintain a normal appearance.
* Have one trusted friend check your home, inside and out, each day.
* Remove messages from your telephone answering machine daily so that the “beep” is always short. And don’t indicate on your message that you are on vacation.
How Stuff Works.Com demonstrates some additional measures and products that help deter burglars from targeting your home while you’re away.
* Have a locksmith install quality locks on all exterior doors.
* Install motion detector lights.
* Have a neighbor move things like hoses and toys around in your yard regularly.
* Ask a neighbor to park his car in your driveway while you’re away.
* Don’t leave a ladder lying around that a burglar could use to gain access to your second floor windows.
* Invest in a motion activated sensor that triggers a voice speaking and a light activation.
* Opt for a motion detector that sets off a digital barking dog.
* Set light timers to go off and on at various times each day to avoid a pattern.
Finally, before you head out for your vacation, be sure to check with your insurance agent to insure that your home burglary coverage is up to date so you won’t be coming back to any unwanted surprises.
Photo via gurgaonoida