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It's the vacation you've been planning for a long, long time.
You have it planned down to the last detail.
It's going to be perfect.
Perfect - until you come home and find out you've been robbed.
It happens to people hundreds of times a day.
Don't let it happen to you! Planning for home security while you're away is a necessity in today's world.
Even if you have a sophisticated alarm system, you should never leave home without taking the following security precautions: 1.
Install motion detection lights around the perimeter of your home.
This will provide ample light to enable your neighbors to casually monitor your home.
A bright light is often sufficient to scare a would-be burglar away - and protect your home.
2.
Check all of your windows from the outside.
Try to force the windows up AND down.
If the windows are wobbly in the frames or can be forced up or down, it is time to replace your old locks with a more sturdy modern variety.
3.
Check all of your doors from the outside - including your garage door.
Can they be jimmied with a credit card? Are they loose in their frames? Do sliding glass doors leave you vulnerable? If you answer "yes" to any of these questions, it's time to replace your locks and install glass alarms on all sliding glass doors.
You should have a dead-bolt lock on every outside door at minimum.
And be sure to augment the simple catch-lock on sliding glass doors with a pin-lock secured right into the frame.
Add glass breakage alarms to every door - and you've greatly improved your home security.
4.
Buy several electrical timers and set them to approximate a normal evening lighting and sound pattern in your home.
If you have a dog, be sure to use a barking dog alarm while you are away - to scare off burglars and make you r home appear to be lived in.
Ask a trusted neighbor or friend to reset the timers occasionally to make the nighttime lighting and sound pattern appear even more natural.
5 Inform your local post office you're going to be away.
Have them hold your mail.
Start the hold at least one day before you leave - to be sure your instructions will be carried out properly.
And resume your delivery at least one day after you plan to arrive home - just in case there's a delay in your return home.
6.
Inform your mail carrier you will be away.
Ask them to stop delivering your paper at least one day before you leave - so you can confirm you're instructions will be carried out.
And don't continue your delivery for at least one day after you plan to return home - just in case you can't get home on time.
7.
Leave a spare key with a trusted friend or neighbor.
Ask them to place any packages or newspapers inside your home.
Also ask him or her to reset your timers occasionally to make the house look really occupied.
8.
Never, never, never leave a message on your answering machine indicating that you are away from home for any period of time.
Instead, remotely access you r mailbox daily, answering calls as necessary.
This will ensure your mailbox does not fill up - and people waiting for a response receive one promptly.
9.
If you're in the bad habit of hiding a key around your premises, retrieve the key and place it inside your house.
Burglars know ALL the hiding spots and will find your hidden key.
10 Padlock all gates you may have on your property with a substantial lock.
Your fence is your safety perimeter - your gates need to be impenetrable.
11.
If you're going to be away for longer than a few days, ask a neighbor to park their car in your driveway.
A car that comes and goes creates a more authentic look for your home of being "lived in.
" 12.
If you're going to be gone for an extended period of time, hire someone to cut your grass, trim your bushes and clear any accumulating debris away from your property.
Any messy yard is a sure sign you're not home.
Don't tip off a burglar to your absence.
The purpose of these security measures is to make your home look natural - lived in and well cared for.
A burglar is looking for an easy mark - a home that is unoccupied, dark, with any easy entrance point.
This makes it hard for your neighbors to detect what is going on in the house - and easy for a burglar to get out without being caught.
This vacation, refuse to be a victim.
Assess your security risks and fix them before you go away.
It's an investment that will last long after you return home - providing you with extra home security and ample peace of mind.
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