Hi,
I like this post better than his Fit Traveler back in October. And don’t forget to book for my first Paranormal Weekend, January 26 & 27!
Photo courtesy of Pexels
Tips for Keeping Your Home Secure While Traveling
Travel is supposed to be fun and relaxing. Even if you’re away on business, it should serve as a little bit of a break from the mundane. But one of the stresses of traveling is making sure your home stays secure while you’re away. And that is a reasonable fear since, according to Safeguard the World, more than 2,000,000 home burglaries are reported every year. So, what are the most important steps you can take to give yourself peace of mind when you leave? Here are just a few.
Stay Off Social Media
Sure, you can share family vacation photos, but refrain from doing it until you return home. Seventy-eight percent of ex-burglars say they used social media to find their victims. But not only does your social media status advertise that your home is empty, it could also cause you to get your insurance claim denied.
Don’t Change a Thing
One of the biggest tip-offs to potential thieves that you are out of town is your “away from home” routine. For example, some people will only close all the curtains and lock the front gate when they’re away from home. If you plan to do these things, do them even when you’re home, at least some of the time.
Don’t Advertise Which Security Company You Use
Letting intruders know you have a security system is good, but putting out a “Protected by ADT” sticker could give them enough information to disarm it. As technology advances, so does the sophistication of criminals. Get a generic sticker or use one from a different company.
Tell a Neighbor
It’s important to have at least one neighbor you trust, especially for situations like these. If neighbors know you will be gone, they can keep an eye out for suspicious activity as well as pick up your mail so that it doesn’t look like you’re gone. If you trust your neighbors enough to enter your home, you could also ask them to go inside every few days and turn on a different light—anything to let people know someone is around. Also, consider alerting your local police department and your alarm company.
Hide Your Valuables Better
Most burglars head straight for the master bedroom to check for valuables, so make sure you come up with more clever ways to hide them. For example, Realtor.com suggests you try hiding stuff in boxes in your garage with labels such as “winter clothes” or “Christmas decorations.” Better yet, actually put the valuables in your winter clothes or decorations. You can also create fake vents, outlets, or light fixtures to stash smaller items in.
Invest in a Lock for Your Garage
You may not know this, but apparently closing your automatic garage doors is not enough to deter thieves. They are very easy to open by hand or sometimes using a coat hanger. According to Corporate Travel Safety, all it takes is about six seconds for someone to do this. Some garage doors have an emergency release lever you can disable. If not, you can either secure the lever with some thin wire or invest in a lock that you can keep in place.
Install Security Lighting
It may seem like a no-brainer, but lots of people don’t realize how important it is to keep your property well-lit. A burglar will think twice about trying to break in if he risks everyone seeing him. But in order to keep your electric bill from sky-rocketing, install motion sensors on your outdoor security lighting. Not only will it keep your entrances in plain sight, but it will also make intruders wonder if someone is home.
Remove Your Hidden Keys
No matter how well you think your spare key is hidden, remove it before you leave. Take the key to your neighbor or put it in a magnetic box under your car. Just don’t leave it in the yard. If nothing else, it will save you from worrying the whole trip that someone might find it.
Don’t let worry keep you from enjoying your time from home. Take a few simple precautions to keep your property safe and your mind at ease. And for extended trips, consider asking a relative to house sit. Sometimes just a few words with a neighbor and an extra lock here and there can save your valuables and your trip!
Enjoy this warm weather we are experiencing, better than two weeks of below 10 degrees, 🙂
ed
Thanks for sharing these awesome tips. I have to travel for my business work and so I was worried about the theft in the house, but your post has given me various ideas that will help me to protect my house in my absence. Keep sharing such helpful post.