Summer is lots of people’s favorite time of year–including burglars’. Not only do many people vacation in the summer, but due to warmer weather, they often accidentally leave a window open or unlocked. Here are a few tips on how to keep your home secure when you’re not there:
- Stop the mail and newspaper delivery. Accumulating newspapers and mail spilling out of the mailbox are the very first things burglars look for.
- Buy an inexpensive timer for your lights (indoor and outdoor) so it looks more like someone is home.
- Consider leaving a radio or tv on for the same effect.
- If possible, leave a car in the driveway and ask a a friend to just move it a little every few days.
- Make sure you lawn will be mowed in your absence–unmowed lawns are another easy tip off you’re not there.
- Make sure you’re not expecting any packages to be delivered while you’re away–if you are expecting a delivery, ask someone to pick it up for you.
- Move (or entirely remove) that extra key that’s under the mat or in another obvious place. It IS a good idea for someone (relative, friend, neighbor) to have a key in case of emergency, but don’t make it easy for an unwanted guest to get in.
- Resist the (foreign to me) urge to announce on social media where and when you will be away. Bad plan.
- In addition to break ins, other safety precautions include unplugging any appliances you can and adusting your thermostat; you don’t want to waste energy (and money), but don’t turn the air off altogether as closed up houses that trap heat and humidity can lead to mildew and buckling of wood, etc.
- Finally, if you want to take security and safety to the next level, beyond alarms, there are cameras and even more complete home security systems that monitor motion, sound and temperature changes and transmit the information in real time right to your cell phone.
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