A burglary occurs every 14.6 seconds in the United States. When a burglar enters your home, not only do you lose valuables, you lose a piece of mind. Americans spend an average of six to ten hours away from home everyday. This doesn’t count holidays, vacations, and special occasions. An empty house leaves an amazing opportunity for breaking and entering so here are a few tips on how to keep your house secure while you’re away.
It cannot be stressed enough that you should make sure all your doors and windows are locked before you leave the house. These are the easiest ways to get into your home, and keeping them locked is the first step to delaying burglaries. Years ago, people would leave notes on their doors for people like a neighbor or delivery man to let them know they were not currently home. This is a terrible idea today. Never advertise that you are away from home, and let people know (who need to know!) through a quick cell phone call instead. Do not post about being away from home on vacation on social media either! It may seem paranoid, but you never know who will see it, and who will take advantage.
If you’re going to be away from home for an extended period of time, try to keep your home from looking empty. You can achieve this by having trusted neighbors pick up mail for you and check on your home periodically. You can also set lights on a timer to make it look like they are in regular use. Keep blinds and windows closed so no one can see inside easily if there is no one home or something to steal.
