Safeguard Your Home against Burglars This Summer
When the weather warms up, crimes of theft tend to increase. The warm weather allows criminals to lurk outside in neighborhoods, and the tradition of family vacations means that many homes are left temporarily vacant during this time of year. To help safeguard your home against burglars this summer, here are some tips.
Shrubs and Other Vegetation
Having shrubs, vines, or other vegetation growing over windows and up around doors may be an invitation for thieves. The foliage provides a cover and allows them to go about their break-in undetected. Be sure to keep ornamental grasses, shrubs, vines, and other vegetation trimmed back from doors and windows.
Motion-Activated Lighting
A bright, motion-activated outdoor light may ward off a burglar as he approaches your house. Sources recommend mounting such lights in trees, where they are not easily detected. It’s also a good idea to have several, so if the thief ducks one, he may trip the other. Make sure they are bright!
While we’re on this topic, it’s worth noting that bright, widespread, exterior lighting is purported to be a burglar deterrent.
Mail and Newspapers
Burglars know a person is not home if newspapers and mail pile up. Call the post office and newspaper office before you go out of town and ask them to stop your mail, or ask a neighbor to bring them in.
Neighbor Check-in
Let trusted neighbors know you are going out of town, and ask them to keep an eye on your place. Ask one trusted neighbor to go into your home at random times during your absence to check things out and give the appearance of activity around the home.
Lock Doors and Windows
Even if you are just going for a walk or running a quick errand, it’s a good idea to lock windows and doors. Remember the garage door.
Home Alarm Systems
If you have a home alarm system, activate it even if you aren’t going to be gone long. Make sure you are familiar with how your system works.
Toys on the Lawn
Before going out of town, let the kids leave their least valuable toys out on the lawn. This gives the appearance of recent activity, especially if your handy neighbor visitor rearranges them on occasion.
Lamps and Timers
Putting your indoor lights on timers helps give the appearance of occupants in the house. Most timers have multiple on-off settings, so you can have the lamps going on and off at different ends of the house in patterns similar to what your family normally does.
Alarm Clocks
If you have a clock radio with an alarm setting, leave it on. If you have a television or other radio with a setting that allows you to have it come on and off at various times, use it. You can also use a lamp timer with a plug-in radio or TV, setting it to come on and go off at various times.