It’s summer time. For many of us that means it’s time to hit the road with the family and go on vacation. Most of us plan out vacations very thoroughly. We make checklists of what to bring, what to do, who to send post cards to and so on. But what about making a plan to protect our homes while we are away? Sure, we stop the mail and let others know about our travel plans. However, thieves are smart and often stake out neighborhoods for the sole purpose of looking for families away.
Here are some things you can do to help protect your home while you are away. Contact Crime Stoppers and see if there is a neighborhood watch that can keep an eye out for unusual activity at your home. In some cases, you can call the non-emergency number of your local law enforcement agency to request a patrol car pass your home from time to time. Most people are surprised to find that local law enforcement is more than happy to provide that service. After all, police would much rather prevent a crime than investigate one.
Another thing you can do to protect your home is store valuables such as watches, jewelry and other small valuables at a safe location. Trusted friends and family can be a safe way to go. The keyword here is TRUSTED. In most cases, renting a safe deposit box from your bank or credit union is a much safer way to go. Those are virtually bad guy proof and you are not placing a burden on your friends and family by asking them to store your valuables.
Perhaps the most important thing you can do is to arm your home with a quality home security system. This is your best and last line of defense against being burgled while you are on vacation. Naturally, you reap the same benefits of a quality home security system while you are in town.
A quality home security or alarm system usually is made up of the following components. Almost all home security systems include a digital touchpad with power backup and 24/7 live remote monitoring. The better ones have a wireless remote that can be used as a panic button as well as an easy way to arm and disarm the system. Other key components are wireless sensors for windows and doors. A motion sensor, critical should the wireless sensors on the windows and doors fail, is a necessary component. If you have pets, it is best to verify they are cannot trip off the motion sensors. Second to the battery backup and 24/7 remote monitoring is the siren. Most burglars are cowards and will flee a home if the alarm is loud enough. The best alarms are high-decibel beep systems. These are generally loud enough to be heard by your neighbors (you did tell your neighbors you are leaving town, right?)
Now that you have taken the steps to protect your home and valuables, it’s time to hit the road and have the best family vacation yet. Be sure to bring plenty of sunblock and have FUN!
