10 proven home security tips for while on vacation

We all work hard during the year to provide a safe and happy home for our families. That oftenincludes installing and maintaining an effective home security system. Even with the bestsecurity in place, some risk remains. Unfortunately, that risk increases greatly when no one is athome. Even leaving for a day of work or a weekend away means that your home’s security riskincreases. But at no other time is your home and property more at risk than when you and yourfamily are away for a vacation.

Burglars are smart and patient and wait for the best opportunity to attack. A home unattendedwhile its owners are on vacation is a prime target. Just imagine coming home from a fantasticfamily vacation to find that your home or property has been compromised. Don’t let thisunfortunate situation happen to you! Whether your home does or does not include a securitysystem, here are 10 proven home security tips for leaving your home while on vacation.

1. Create activity around the home– Asking an extended family member or a friendly neighborto keep an eye on things while you are away is a natural move but you can take things a stepfurther by giving them a key to enter the home and check inside from time to time. They will beable to ensure that no one has entered and can check on window and door locks around thehouse. Also, these regular visits will create activity that will alert anyone who may be ‘casing’the house as a potential target.

2. Secure doors & windows – This may seem obvious but more often than not, burglars gainentry into homes through an unlocked door or window. It’s easy to forget a rarely used windowor entry. Check them all, even 2nd or 3rd floor windows that you may think are inaccessible.Check the operation of all locks to make sure they are in good working order. In the case ofsliding windows and doors, adding a wooden dowel rod in the slide gap as a secondary barrier isa good idea.

3. Don’t forget the garage door – Most homes have automatic garage door openers andalthough they keep the door firmly shut, they are not safe from manipulation. Some older unitscan be compromised by using a long crowbar on the garage door or by using a long wireinserted through the weatherproofing seal to catch and release the latches. Avoid this while onvacation by adding a simple deadbolt to one of the latches or along the door track to preventany movement of the door.

4. Secure or hide valuables – A great way to limit loss in the event of a break-in is by storingsmall valuables such as jewelry, electronics and cash in a securely mounted safe or lock box.Criminals don’t want to spend too much time in a home, they want to get in and get out. Theywill take the valuables that are most easily accessible and won’t often take the time to attemptto open a safe. If you don’t have a safe, you can at least hide small valuables rather than leavingthem out in the open.

5. Stop the mail – If you are gone for more than a day or two, you can call the post office andhave your mail held. A pile of mail on a porch or an overflowing mailbox is a sure sign of anunattended home. Also, make sure that you are not expecting any package deliveries fromonline shopping sites that may be left on the porch. Criminals are savvy to our shopping habitsand will look for packages that are not collected right away.

6. Maintain the home’s exterior – Another giveaway to burglars is homes with overgrown lawnsor not maintained driveways. If you will be gone for a week or more in the summer, having

someone come by and mow the lawn will keep the house looking tended to. If it is winter, havesomeone shovel the snow from the driveway and walkway just as you would if you were home.

7. Light up the home - An attended home will have a regular cycle of lights and lighting as yourfamily goes about their day and night. Homes with no lights at all, or lights that always remainon look suspicious. Use programmable timers on a few lights so that they shine as they normallywould. Some remote lighting systems include apps that also let you control your home lightingremotely from a smart phone.

8. Keep it secret – Avoid making public mentions of your departure on social media or theinternet. You never know who may be watching. You may want to celebrate your upcomingholiday but there is a chance that someone with nefarious intent could be alerted. This newkind of targeting is becoming more and more of a problem. Do yourself a favor and wait untilyou return to celebrate your trip online.

9. Remove spare keys – If you are one of the many families who keep a key hidden outside forthose rare occasions when you find yourself locked out, remove it! If you are out of town,burglars will have time to search the home’s exterior for such items. In fact, it’s much moresecure to have a trusted friend or neighbor hold your spare keys.

10. Install a high-quality security system – In the past, security systems have been expensive tobuy, install and maintain. New technologies are changing that. Components such as IP camerasare simple to install, don’t require expensive wiring and are easily customized. These systemsoften include an app that allows remote manipulation and monitoring using a smart phone. Youmay be surprised at how affordable and effective these systems can be. An entry-level system isa proven way to help prevent theft and property damage. Not only are they effective but theycan provide something that is priceless – peace of mind while you are on vacation knowing thatyour home is safe.

Nothing can protect a home 100% but taking applying these proven home security tips can helpkeep your home safe and secure while you are enjoying a much-needed vacation. The next timethat you leave town, keep these in mind.