The holiday season is here! Some folks will be visiting family elsewhere or making a winter getaway as the weather gets cooler. But before you post on Facebook about the great vacation you are having, you may want to think twice. The FBI 2012 crime report states that we can expect one in every thirty six homes in the US to be burglarized, that is approximately 1 home every 14.6 seconds. However, there are things you can do to keep your home safe while you’re away.
Maintain Your Garage
Keep your door locked, and not just your garage door. Make sure the door between your house and garage are also locked. Even with the best possible security measures in place, your garage door is vulnerable. If your garage door can be locked and you will be away from home for an extended period, lock the garage door as well. Additionally, park your cars in your garage. Just like a home, a quick break of a car window can be all that a burglar needs to drive off with one of your cars.
Put Stuff Away
One way to give a nasty thief an idea to potentially rob your home is by leaving your objects that they could use in plain site. An example of this is if you live in a two-story home and you left your ladder in plain site, this might get the wheels spinning and could potentially lead to a break in. Other examples of this could be yard tools or anything they could use to break a window. Also remember to put your trash cans away and do not leave them on the curb and keep your boxes of electronics and toys in the trash cans or take to a recycle center. These boxes are dead giveaways that Santa made some great deliveries.
Posting on Social Media
This may be a challenge for some but what many do not understand is that by posting your vacation pictures while you are gone on vacation, you are signaling to the world that you are not at home and will not be returning any time in the very near future. We may think we know who our Facebook friends are but it is always better to be safe than sorry. Another example of this is leaving newspapers or mail piling up in the driveway or mailbox. It might be helpful to ask a neighbor to kindly hold on to them for you or place your mail on hold at the post office.
Keep your Home Lit
Using light timers both inside and outside your home is a great idea to ward off potential burglars. If burglars think you are home, then they are less likely to try to break in your home.
Pick an Alarm System That Works For You
When it comes to picking an alarm system, it is crucial to do so by keeping your daily life in mind. There are a lot of factors that come in to play when deciding on an alarm system for your home an example of this is to look at your home and determine how many windows and doors you will need protected.
Stop Hiding the Key
Many homeowners keep extra keys under the front door mat, inside the plant potter or some other close location. Do not do this anymore! This is the first place a burglar will look to easily access your home. On a similar note, make sure your alarm codes or garage key pads access codes have nothing to do with your house number. Choose a code that is completely unrelated to your neighborhood or your home.
