Vacation Security - Secure Your Home !
A vacation, a weekend away from home or a business trip should be a pleasant experience for you and your family. You can help make each trip more enjoyable by taking a few simple steps to reduce the possibility that your home will be broken into while you are gone.
An empty house (or one that looks that way!) is a tempting target for a burglar. Use this checklist of tips to help safeguard your home while you're away.
- Have good
locks on all doors and windows, and USE THEM!
- Make sure
any broken windows, door or window locks are repaired.
- Ask a
neighbor to watch the house while you're away. It's a good idea to
leave your vacation address and telephone number with a neighbor so
you can be reached in case of an emergency.
- Never leave
your house key hidden outside your home.
- Stop all
deliveries, or arrange for a neighbor to pick up your mail,
newspapers and packages.
- Arrange for
someone to mow your lawn, rake leaves and maintain the yard to give
the home a lived-in look.
- Have a
neighbor place garbage cans at the curb on your normal pickup days
and return them after the garbage pickup is made.
- Plug in
timers to turn lights and a radio or television on and off at
appropriate times. This helps to disguise the fact that you are
away.
- Turn the
bell or ringer on your telephone down low. If a burglar is around,
he won't be alerted to your absence by a ringing phone.
- Don't
announce your absence on answering machine messages; leave your
normal message on the machine.
- Leave your
blinds, shades and curtains in a normal position. Don't close them
unless that is what you do when you are home.
- Close and
lock garage doors and windows. Ask a neighbor to occasionally park
in your driveway. If you leave your car at home, park it as you
normally would. Vehicles parked outside should be moved occasionally
to appear that they are being used.
- Secure
storage sheds, attic entrances and gates.
- Consider
taking valuables to a bank safe deposit box.
- Tell your
local police you plan to be away. Patrol officers may have the
opportunity to periodically check your home.
- Engrave your valuables as recommended in Operation I.D. This simple step will allow your stolen property to be identified and returned to you if recovered by the police.
©2006 Foster Brothers Security Systems