It’s crazy to think the year is almost halfway over! For many people, this month is the beginning of travels and vacations. With all the increased travel also comes an increased chance for home invasions. The last thing you want after an amazing trip is to return to find your home has been vandalized. So, we rounded up the four easiest ways you can protect your home while you’re on vacation.
Tip #1: Consider a House Sitter
The best way to truly protect your belongings is to avoid leaving them unguarded in the first place. Even if you are not comfortable hiring a professional house sitter, you should definitely consider having a friend or family member stay over while you’re away. In the event that you don’t have anyone who can stay each night, you can still have them give the appearance that the house is occupied by having them:
- Keep the yard mowed
- Walk the property twice a day
- Turn on porch lights at night
- Check the mail and/or gather newspapers from the driveway
If intruders believe that someone is still entering the home on a daily basis, they are far less likely to target your home for invasion or theft.
Tip #2: Use Appliance Timers
In the event you don’t have someone to stop by your home while you’re gone, you can still give the impression that someone is there. Technology has allowed us to set appliances and lights on timers or even access them from a smart device. Installing a simple timer on a lamp in the front window of your house and having it turn on at dark, can help deter possible thieves.
Tip #3: Use Surveillance Equipment
Gone are the days of expensive and bulky surveillance equipment for catching thieves. Smart technology gives you the ability to hide the tiniest of cameras around your home and allow you to access their feeds in real time from your phone or smart device. While these hidden devices don’t deter intruders, they can help you identify them or even catch them “red handed.”
Tip #4: Limit Public Info About Your Trip
This one is probably one of the hardest tips for people to implement these days. While you may want to brag about your upcoming adventure or share all the magical details of your trip in real time, you could be advertising your home to thieves. It’s safest to tell as few people as possible about your upcoming plans, and save sharing all the pictures for when you return home. You’re better safe than sorry.
We sincerely hope that your travels are fun, relaxing and free of any criminal activity. However, if you feel that your neighbourhood is not as safe as it used to be and are curious to know what options you have for increased security, including rolling shutters, we’d love to help. Contact us to schedule a time to discuss your home security needs.