subject: Secure Your Home While You Are Away! [print this page] Tips to Protect your Home While Youre Away
Youve planned and fussed over every detail of your summer vacation but what plans have you made to make sure your home is safe while you are away?
There are lots of details to think about for your home, as well. Money Talks News reports that according to the FBI a burglary happens every 14.6 seconds in the US. Those are scary statistics; so what can you do to make sure you arent one of them?
From Facebook to smartphone apps, there are a lot of easy ways to protect your most valuable investment. says Angela Colley of Money Talks News. She offers these tips for keeping your home safe while you are away:
-Your home is only as secure as your locks!
Check all exterior locks and test whether they really are secure. Exterior doors should always have a deadbolt system.
-Ask a neighbor to watch your house
Always tell a neighbor you trust when you will be gone. Ask them to keep an eye out for anything suspicious.
-Newspapers, mail and flyers:
Have the neighbor bring these in daily. You can also put a hold on them if you are gone for a long period of time. Have the neighbor check for flyers and packages left at the front door. Sometimes burglars will hang something on the door to see if it gets taken away!
-Dont Hide a Key
The most likely place for you to hide your key is the most likely place that a burglar is going to look. Give a key to your neighbor for emergencies and in case it gets lost, dont have your address or name on it.
-Use timers on inside lights to make it look like you are home.
Set the timers to go off at random intervals throughout the day. suggests Colley. Thieves are less likely to try and break in if they think youre home.
-Have good exterior lighting
A well-lit yard is a great theft deterrent. Thieves like the dark. So use light sensitive outdoor lighting that turns on at dusk and off during the day.
For added security, suggests Colley, pick up a few motion sensor lights at a hardware store. The lights will pop on whenever anyone comes into the range of the motion sensor.
-Curtains can be a signal that you are gone.
If you normally open your curtains during the day and close them at night, have your neighbor keep up the same routine.
-Make the local police department aware of your plans
Call your local police department and see if they have a community safety program. Not all police departments offer this, writes Colley, but it doesnt hurt to ask.
For example, in my neighborhood, says Colley, a police officer will come to your house and do a safety check, pointing out any potential security problems. Police officers will also drive by your house and keep an eye out if you let them know youll be out of town.
-Dont change your answering machine message
Its like rolling out a welcome mat to anyone who might want to gain access to your house. says Colley. Always have just a generic message on your machine with no details like- were not home or when you will be back.
-Dont display the good stuff
The next time youre outside, take a walk around your house and look in your windows. suggests Colley. If you can see expensive electronics, a jewelry box in your bedroom, or anything else worth stealing, so can everyone else. Dont help criminals window shop. Move your expensive items out of view.
-Keep up with the lawn and yard
Hire someone to mow the lawn and maybe trim up those hedges youve been meaning to get to!
-Dont leave bikes & equipment out
Leaving the bikes or lawn equipment out in the yard is an invitation to come into your yard. Once in the yard, they might notice youre not home and break in. Lock everything up in the garage or shed.
-Keep the driveway active
Colley suggests asking your neighbors to park in your driveway every now and then to make it seem like someone is coming and going.
-Dont announce it on Social Media!
If you feel the need to post your photos and updates to Facebook, then set all your settings to private.
I used to be guilty of checking in on Facebook says Colley, until I saw this: WeKnowWhatYoureDoing.com, a website that posts public statuses by category. If they can find this information, anyone can including your boss, your mom, and potential thieves.
-Check up on your house with your smartphone!
You can use your smartphone to monitor cameras inside your house. All you need to do is link a webcam (included on most desktops and laptops) to the app. writes Colley. Once linked, you can watch the camera directly from your smartphone. She suggests looking into iCam.
Read more home related articles online at Metro Brokers TV.
