The last thing you want to do while on vacation is to worry about someone burglarizing your home. Use this checklist to add some peace of mind to your travel plans.
- Ask a trusted friend to pick up your mail and newspaper and keep the yard free of trash and advertisements.
- Stop your mail but not your newspaper — you can easily handle this online by going to the US Postal Service’s Hold Mail Service. A recent news story implicated an employee from a major newspaper who was passing customer hold requests to burglars.
- Don’t post about your trip on Facebook and Twitter until you return - some burglars actually look for this type of announcement to schedule their activities.
- Notify police and/or neighborhood watch — especially if you’re going to be gone for more than just a few days. Let your security monitoring service know the dates of your trip and whether someone will be checking on your home for you.
- Using timers for your lighting fixtures can make it look like someone is home — use several set for different times to better simulate the appearance that someone is home.
- Unplug certain appliances — TVs, computers, toaster ovens (which use electricity even when they’re off) to protect them from power surges.
- Don’t hide a key — burglars know exactly where to look for your key, and it only takes them a moment to check under the mat, above the door, in the flower pot or in that fake rock you think is cool.
These easy-to-handle suggestions may protect your belongings while you’re gone, while adding a level of serenity to your trip.
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