Summer is here, and that means many people are going on vacation. Vacations can mean a lot of different things, from visiting family to relaxing on a remote beach, but there’s one thing that most vacations have in common: you’re away from home. This gives burglars extra opportunity to break into your home, so you need to take extra precautions to make sure your home is safe and secure. Here are some simple ways to make sure that the home you return to looks just like the home you left.
1. Be sure you have good locks with deadbolts installed. Locks are, after all, the first and most important defense your home has against potential burglars. Since locks are so essential, you really should make sure that yours are all functioning as they should. A fiddly lock isn’t just an annoyance–it’s an invitation. Burglars are adept at quickly assessing whether a lock will hold or whether it will be easy to pick or break. Before you go, be sure you’re sending the right message: do not enter. Keyless locks are also a great option, since they add an extra layer of difficulty for a potential burglar. Burglars, after all, will tend to avoid houses that look difficult to break into; they also won’t spend much time trying to break into a house, so good locks are essential.
2. Make sure your locks are locked. This may seem obvious, but you’d be surprised how many people forget something as simple as this. Don’t just lock the front door–also lock the back door, any other doors, and all windows (yes, even second-story ones). It’s easy to overlook things when you’re trying to get everybody ready, so consider putting together a checklist of things to do before you leave–and put all the locks on that checklist. It’s a simple way to make sure that you haven’t forgotten anything, and that your home is locked up.
3. Make sure your home looks normal. There are lots of tricks that can accomplish this: you can leave your lights on timers (don’t leave them on all the time), leave your blinds open if you normally keep them open (be sure to conceal valuables), stop your mail delivery. Essentially, you want it to look like you’re still at home, discouraging burglars from even approaching your house in the first place. We pride ourselves in providing strong locks and doors that will stand up to break-in attempts, but it’s better not to have those attempts happen at all.
4. Know your neighbors. This is an important tip, which can help you accomplish the other tasks. Neighbors can become good friends, and they can also keep a watchful eye on your house for you. If you trust a neighbor, you can leave a spare key with them, or ask them to make sure your house looks occupied. If you don’t know your neighbors very well, get a friend to house sit for you. This will go a long way towards deterring a potential burglar.
Taking simple steps like these are great ways to ensure that your home stays safe while you’re away. For more home safety tips and services, check out everything we offer here at Advanced Lock & Security!
