It’s finally arrived! You are just days away from leaving on that summer vacation that you planned in the snowy, frigid days of winter. Before you leave, there is some preparation you need to do to ensure that your home, and the valuables inside it, will still be safe and secure when you return.
A locksmith can provide valuable advice and service when it comes to securing your home.
Here is some insightful information to pay attention to for carefree traveling.
Home break-ins occur at a rate of two per minute in the U.S.1 It is well known that most burglaries occur during the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. because that is when homes are most likely to be unoccupied and most burglars prefer unoccupied homes. That is why your home is at greater risk for a burglary when you are on vacation. Statistics also reveal that most burglaries are committed in the summer months — a prime vacation time.2
One of the best ways to protect your home while on vacation is to have a home security system installed and to have signs at the back and front of your home indicating that it contains a home security system.
Homes with security systems are three times less likely to be burglarized.3 Home security systems work as a crime deterrent. If a thief sees that your home is protected, and your next-door neighbor’s home is not, they are more likely to break into your neighbor’s home.
This is because there is less chance of being caught by police dispatched when an alarm is triggered or by cameras recording the criminal and the crime.
A professional locksmith can provide expert advice on which security system would work best for your situation and can install the equipment and provide instructions on how to use the equipment. They can also troubleshoot any issues with the equipment installed.
A goal when you are leaving on vacation is to make your home look like you aren’t on vacation. Have the mail and deliveries stopped or have someone pick them up each day. Don’t forget to cancel or change the delivery date on recurring orders being shipped to your home, such as pet products and prescription medicines.
Lighting indoors and outdoors is also an important consideration. A home that is completely dark for multiple nights is an invitation to a burglar. Use motion sensor lighting (which turns on when motion is detected) or timers on indoor and outdoor lighting or, if you have a smart home, you can install smart lighting.
Smart lighting is controlled through an internet connection.4 Unlike a timer that goes on and off on a pre-set schedule, smart lighting allows the user to remotely turn on and off lights whenever they choose. If a burglar is casing a home, having a light come on at random makes it appear as if someone is home.
Keeping a car in the driveway makes it appear as if someone is home. If you don’t have a spare car, ask a neighbor to park their car in the driveway while you are away. Asking someone to stay at your home while you are away is another good option.
Store valuables in a safe place. Make sure that jewelry, coins, guns, important documents and other valuables are stored in a secure wall or floor safe.
A professional locksmith can help you select the best safe to store your valuables and can install the safe so that it can’t be removed easily during a burglary.
While it is not ideal, storing valuables in a tote labeled “kids toys” or “baby clothes” reduces the probability that a burglar will find your valuables, but it doesn’t help if you have a home fire or flood. Stash valuables in the most cluttered area of your home such as the basement or pantry.
The top places that burglars look for valuables include the following: near windows and doors; in entryway drawers and cabinets; in dresser drawers; under the mattress; in portable safes; in medicine cabinets; in office drawers; in vases; and in kitchen freezer and storage areas.5
Perhaps the simplest deterrent to home burglary is to make a final check that all windows and doors are locked prior to leaving your home on vacation. Upstairs windows, and doors leading to the garage, are often left unlocked and could be a potential area for a burglar to enter your home.
Following these tips can offer peace of mind while you are on vacation. Your actions prior to vacation can also ensure that you when you arrive home, rested and relaxed, you will not be confronted with the anxiety produced after your home has been breached by an intruder. #####
Connect with us at Action Locksmith for expert advice on all things doors, locks and security for your home and business. Our extensive experience in all areas of locksmithing has made us a go-to locksmith company in Southeastern Michigan. Staying up to date on the current trends and technology ensures you receive the best residential locksmith service throughout the area. Call now and Save!
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1 Burglary Statistics 2024 by Meaghan Hunt, 1/12/2024
Link: https://www.bankrate.com/insurance/homeowners-insurance/house-burglary-statistics/
2 , 3 When Do Most Burglaries Occur? Everything You Should Know
Link: https://www.adt.com/resources/when-do-most-burglaries-occur
4 What is Smart Lighting Technology
Link: https://www.smlease.com/entries/automation/what-is-smart-lighting-technology/
5 9 Hiding Spots Where Burglars Always Look First by Caitlyn Callahan. 11/21/2022
Link: https://cluballiance.aaa.com/the-extra-mile/articles/prepare/home/where-burglars-always-look-first