The holiday season is just as busy for burglars as it is for travelers. Many homeowners make the mistake of making it obvious that their homes are unoccupied, making their homes easy targets. Don't allow your property to be an easy target for burglars - follow these seven tips to protect your property.
1: Install a Security System Modern home security systems make it easier than ever to see what's going on at home when you're not there. Most of them give you the option to watch your property in real time on your smart phone! Advanced camera, alarm, and communication technologies put the power in your hands when it comes to thwarting burglaries, so investing in a security system is a great idea.
2: Set Up Security Lighting Bright lights are a major deterrent for burglars. Timed smart lights inside and out, programmed to come on at different times of the day, fool burglars into thinking you're home when you're not. Pair modern smart lights with a strong security system to keep the bad guys away from your property while you're gone.
3: Pause All Deliveries Like moths are drawn to light, burglars are drawn to the sight of overflowing mailboxes and unattended packages. Same with daily newspapers piling up on the front porch. It's very easy to pause all of your deliveries so burglars see little reason to be drawn to your home. If you don't want to pause deliveries, have a friend you trust come by while you're away to pick them up as they arrive.
4: Keep Your Yard Maintained While there's very little yardwork to actually be done in the winter, it's still a necessity. Burglars can tell when someone's away for a while by looking for tell-tale signs in an unmaintained lawn. If you hire a lawn service, make sure they come out during regularly scheduled times. If you don't usually hire a lawn service, it's a good idea to do so while you're away from home.
5: Utilize the Power of Smart Timers Smart technology puts the power in the hands of homeowners to keep homes safe by providing the illusion of occupancy. You can purchase smart timers for everything from lights to televisions, setting them for random times throughout the day to trick burglars into thinking you're home when you're not.
6: Resist the Urge to Overshare Social media has made us all extremely comfortable with sharing our lives with others minute to minute. This can be fun and exciting, but it can also be dangerous. Burglars watch social media sites to see when individuals in their area are going to be away from home. Resisting the urge to overshare on social media while you're on vacation can protect your property more than you realize.
7: Find a House Sitter This is probably one of the strongest tips you'll see here! Timers, cameras, lights, and alarms are great. They're no match for a good human deterrent, though. If possible, ask someone you trust to stay at your place while you're away. This can be a friend, or a professional house sitter found through an agency or a forum.
