The holidays are a special time of year when people often travel to visit family, friends and loved ones. Unfortunately, the holidays are also a special time of year for criminals as they know that homes will be left vacant while homeowners are traveling. According to the FBI, break-ins during December make up a good portion of all burglaries each year, and the financial cost of holiday break-ins is over $100 million. Thankfully, you can take some steps to protect your home, valuables and peace of mind this year by following some simple tips if you plan to travel for the holidays.
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Install Motion Detectors And Alarms
Motion sensors are included with a number of home security systems, and this equipment can detect disturbances around your property. If needed, you can request a quote for disturbance switches from companies like Select Controls or contact your security system provider to inquire about your options.
If you choose to install your own disturbance switches and motion detectors, consider blind spots around your property. These are areas that are not seen from roadways and are not easily viewed from windows. Thieves look for these spots specifically because they make entering and exiting properties during break-ins easier. By identifying these areas, you can have a better shot at stopping criminals before they have a chance to enter your home when you connect disturbance switches to audible alarms.
Be Careful With Social Media
Virtually everyone who uses social media loves to share their vacation and holiday photos online, but be careful – doing so could be opening your home up to burglars. Criminals sometimes use social media to look for opportunities, and when you share your plans or photos showing that you’re away from home, you may be setting your house up for a break-in. Even sharing your travels after you return could be dangerous if you take an annual holiday trip. Thieves are cunning, and some may plan all year long for the perfect time to hit your home while you’re away.
Also, be careful about sharing photos of gifts or posts about expensive items in your home. While you may want to show off that new flat-screen TV or expensive piece of jewelry, doing so can expose valuables in your home to criminals.
Have A Trusted Neighbor Watch Your Home
If you have a trusted neighbor nearby, it might be a good idea to let them know about your plans or even have them keep an eye on your home while you’re away. Once again, this needs to be someone whom you can trust implicitly, but having a neighbor watch out for strange activity around your home while you’re off on your holiday travels can make a big difference. If a criminal is casing your home or someone suspicious is wandering around your property, your neighbor can alert the authorities and give you a heads-up as well.
It may make sense to leave a spare key hidden around the outside of your home so that your neighbor can check on your house or pets, but you will probably be safer by leaving a key with your neighbor directly. Experienced burglars know common hiding places for keys and other access instruments. While you may think you’ve found a clever hiding spot, a criminal probably already knows to check that spot. Instead, make a copy of your house key and give it directly to your neighbor so that they can access your home remodeling in the event of an emergency.
