Vary your inside lights – There are differing opinions on whether or not you should leave your lights on the entire time you’re on vacation. If you leave your lights on the whole time you’re gone, it wastes a lot of electricity and raises your electric bill. Also, having lights on 24/7 can look just as suspicious as having them off. Electronic timers may be helpful. The danger here is that if someone was really intent on robbing you, they will likely be watching the house for a period of time. If they notice that the lights go on at exactly 7:05pm and off at exactly 10:35pm each night, it would not take a genius to figure out they are on a timer.
The answer: A project like Caséta. “Scheduling lights to turn on at varying times is a great way to deter burglars, and the Caséta Wireless kit lets you control the lights in your home from anywhere through the Lutron Electronics app,” said USA Today 10 Best. Its new Smart Away feature randomly turns lights on and off between 6pm and 11pm to make your home look lived in – even when you’re on vacation. Caséta Wireless also ensures you never have to walk into a dark house again – or get out of bed to turn off the lights.
Hold your mail – even if you’re only going away for a weekend. Mail theft is up, and consequently, so is identity theft. According to a US Postal Service official, mail theft is on the rise, with the objective of getting access to financial information to exploit for personal gain. Asking your neighbors to get your mail is great, but what if they don’t get to it right away? You don’t want thieves putting a plan of credit card fraud into action while you’re getting a massage.
Hire a dog sitter – You may think you have thought of everything when it comes to protecting your home on vacation. But if your dogs are also taking a little vacation at your fave boarding spot while you’re away, you might be removing one of the top obstacles to home break-ins: a barking dog. Nextdoor and Rover are great places to find a qualified dog sitter who can stay with your pooches and watch your house at the same time, and, often, it will cost you less than boarding, especially if you have more than one dog.
Get rid of spare keys – Have a key hidden under the mat or in the planter next to the front door? Security experts will advise you this is dangerous on any given day with thieves looking for an easy way in. But, especially, when you’re out of town, a poorly hidden key is an invitation for unlawful entry. Instead, leave a house key with a trusted neighbor for emergencies.
Lock your gates – If someone can get into your backyard, they have an easier entry into your home since they’re more likely to be out of sight. If you regularly keep the gate unlocked to give access to gardeners or other family members, consider locking it while you’re away. Forgoing landscaping in your back yard for a week won’t hurt, and the extra security measure will help you feel at ease.
Cancel automatic deliveries – You may think about your mail, and even halting your newspaper delivery, while you’re enjoying your relaxing beach getaway, but have you forgotten anything? If you get regular deliveries – coffee, office supplies, diapers – be sure to call and cancel for the time you’re gone. Packages piling up at your front door can invite theft – of your home, and the stuff you ordered.
Get a security system with cameras – Nothing new about this, but a security system continues to be the No. 1 deterrent to breakins, so it bears mentioning. Security cameras can give you piece of mind as well. Look for cameras that have built-in sensors that track motion, and will send push notifications when movement is detected.