Securing Your Home During Vacations
Summer is quickly approaching and its a popular time of year for vacations. Burglary rates are on the rise. Plan ahead before your leave. Here are 10 tips to help secure your home .
- Lock all exterior doors and windows - including garage doors. 28% of burglars don't use forced entry.
- Lock all vehicles. Burglars can use your garage door opener to gain access to your garage/home.
- Use timers on lights, stereos or TVs to give the illusion that someone is home.
- Turn down the volume on your phone ringer so a series of unanswered rings don't alert someone that you are not home.
- Install motion lights in your yard to illuminate your property if someone approaches.
- Trim back bushes near doors and windows that provide a hiding place for burglars to work.
- Have your neighbor collect your mail and newspaper deliveries or have mail and delivery services suspended during your vacation.
- Leave contact numbers with the neighbors on either side of you. Include your cell numbers, itinerary, and the name and number of your insurance agent in case something needs to be addressed immediately.
- Mark your water main shutoff with a visible, colored tag. Make sure you shut off the water when you leave.
- Arrange to have your lawn mowed while you are gone.
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