Keys to Home Security While on Vacation

Keys to Home Security While on Vacation


Most people take vacations in an effort to forget about the struggles and stresses of everyday life. It can be hard to relax, however, if you are worried about your home being burglarized in your absence. There are a number of seemingly-mundane clues that can tip off an experienced criminal that your home is empty and open for the taking; take precautions before you leave to ensure your home's safety while you are gone.

Appliances
While you are away, you want your home to have the appearance of being lived in, so that burglars do not realize that the home is empty. An easy way to give your home that lived-in look is through lighting.

Set interior lighting, as well as appliances like your television, to activate through timers. This will make it appear as if someone is in your home at night. Similarly, exterior lights such as porch or driveway lights should activate on a timer or through motion detectors. Make sure that all major entrances to your home are illuminated; burglars will be less likely to enter your home if they know they can be seen.

Set your telephone and answering machine on a limited number of rings, and do not leave a message that says you are on vacation. A constantly-ringing telephone is a sure sign that no one is home.

Neighborhood Assistance
Get help for home security from neighbors, friends or family members. Have a neighbor park his car in your driveway at night while you are away; this will also give your home a lived-in appearance. Ask someone to pick up your mail, newspaper and any other deliveries that come to your home. If you cannot get someone to pick these up for you, cancel all deliveries while you are away. Built-up mail or deliveries will immediately indicate that no one is home.

Do not leave spare keys in hidden areas outside your home. Give a spare key to a trusted neighbor, or to the person who will pick up your deliveries. Inform a neighborhood watch program or your local police department that you are leaving, so that they can check on your home. Also, arrange to have snow shoveled or grass cut, so that it appears that someone is home to maintain the property.

Other Tips
Make sure all doors and windows in your home are locked. This includes areas that you would not normally consider entry points, such as second-story windows and doors that lead into your home from a basement or garage. Any access point to your home should be secured.

Enable any security systems you have. Inform the central monitoring station that you are going away, and provide a contact number in case of emergency. Store money, credit cards, identification certificates and other important valuables in a safe or deposit box while you are gone. While you are trying to prevent a break-in, you want your most valued positions safe in case one happens.