Home Security at Vacation Time
Don’t overlook your home security in the hurry to prepare for your vacation. Crime statistics show that every hour in the US 240 homes are burglarized. Most of these crimes happen when no one is home. Many of them could be prevented if the homeowner had a home security system installed.
The installation of a home security alarm, and home security surveillance cameras is one of the simplest and effective ways to improve the security of your home and family instantly. Many of these home security products also have the option of home security monitoring. But the installation of these devices does not guarantee you immunity from trouble, other steps and precautions need to taken to improve you overall security. Some of the less expensive options available include installing motion sensor lighting around the perimeter of your home. In addition to the external security there is a great deal that can be done inside the home to improve security. Check all locks on doors and windows replace any that are defective. Don’t think it will never happen at your home, it does and it will.
Sliding glass doors can be very easy for a burglar to exploit. There are inexpensive devices on the market which will improve the security of your sliding doors. Or you can make your own by taking a section of broom handle and cutting it to fit in the track in which the door slides, and use it whenever you are away from home.
If you have a home safe make sure you use it to protect your most valuable items and keys that are used to protect your home and its contents. Personal and financial documents should also be kept in the safe as well. Anyone without a home safe can get even better protection by using a safe deposit box at the bank.
The easiest way to prevent a burglar from choosing your house as his target is to make it look like someone is at home. It is easy, inexpensive and effective to use timers to turn lights and appliances off and on at random times of the day. Make sure you spread the effect over several rooms of the house.
There are other precautions you can take, such as stopping delivery of the mail and the newspaper. If you have two cars, park one in the driveway; you can also ask a neighbor to park there during your absence. Find a trusted neighbor or relative, give him a key, and have him check on the house while you’re gone. And don’t leave an away message announcing your absence to the world.
Make sure that all of your tools and equipment are put away and under lock and key. Something as simple as a ladder being left out is an invitation to a burglar to enter an upper story window. You can never make your home completely secure, but the harder you make it for the burglar, the more likely he is to go somewhere else.