When planning for a family trip, there will always be one primary concern: the house. It doesn’t help that there have been news reports about house burglaries when the owners were on vacation.
According to the US Department of Justice, 17.1 percent of the property crimes reported in 2018 were burglaries. In spite of this, there are always security measures that can give the family peace of mind.
6 Tips to Secure Your Home Before Going on Vacation
Learn about the best tips to protect the house and plan a strong line of defense.
- Leave a copy of the key with a trusted friend or relative.
If there is a hidden key somewhere near the front door, give it to a close friend or a family member. Potential thieves will always look for a spare key. The best way to ensure that they don’t find it is if the key is with someone else.
Mail and newspapers overflowing in the mailbox are apparent signs that no one is home. The person entrusted with the key can bring those items inside. It can also be arranged with them to water the plants, take care of the pets, and bring the trash out. A fully operational home would be less attractive for housebreakers.
- Don’t post exact details on social media.
To keep the house safe, don’t broadcast the details of the vacation online. It’s like announcing that you’ve left an unguarded property. It’s much safer if no one else knows the exact schedules and plans.
Keep in mind that information can be pieced together from different posts. By stalking someone’s Facebook account, their spouse’s Instagram, and their children’s Twitter, a person with intentions of breaking in will know when to strike. Keep a low social media profile while on vacation itself.
- Don’t use locks that can easily be picked.
Common intruders use hairpins or paper clips to get inside unattended houses easily. Buy quality padlocks for all entrances to the property, including gates and garage doors. Ensure that the yard is free of anything that can be used to gain access to the house.
Thieves are usually deterred just by your house having high-quality locks. Unless they brought a complete lockpicking set, they would move on to a house that is a much easier target.
- Get a good monitoring system for the home.
Home security is always a good investment because it will be useful even after the duration of the trip. A security system includes cameras, motion sensors, and alarms. Potential intruders will be dissuaded, seeing that all the entry points into the house are secured.
Managing the house remotely is very common nowadays. It’s very comforting to view the live feed of the house and personally check that everything is in place.
- Lock up valuables in unexpected places.
Burglars will automatically go to the bedroom to check for valuables. Be one step ahead of them by not hiding items and cash in cliché places like drawers, under the mattress, and behind the toilet tank.
Try leaving out some inexpensive, fake items to trick any potential intruder that they’ve gotten all there is. Pick smart spots and use fake stashes to divert and outsmart burglars.
- Install security lights outdoors.
Intruders go for houses that have some blind spots, like high fences where they can stay hidden from the neighbors’ view. They also prefer dark areas because it allows them to sneak in. Set up the security lights near the door, windows, or sides of the house.
By installing outdoor security lights, they’ll see that it will be much more difficult for them to carry out their plans. It’s better to get the motion-activated lights because it saves more energy and has the element of surprise.
Preparedness Goes a Long Way
The last thing a family needs on vacation is a nagging feeling at the back of their minds. Taking excellent preventive measures will prevent problems and stress during and after the trip. Always remember, planning about home security will always be worth the time and money.
[…] RELATED: 6 Tips to Secure Your Home Before Going on Vacation […]