Keep your home safe while on vacation

Summer vacation conjures images of sandy beaches, amusement parks, lakeside cabins,
or family road trips. For burglars, summer vacations are the perfect opportunity to take
advantage of unoccupied home and garages. In fact, property crimes spike during the
summer months, peaking in July and August. Here are a few tips for protecting your
home while you’re gone this summer:

Δ Stay secure – Before you leave, double check that all doors and windows are locked.
Don’t forget the upstairs windows. Air conditioning units, ladders, nearby trees and even
garbage cans can give thieves access to those windows. Trim or remove shrubs that
offer an easy hiding place. Don’t leave a spare key outside, thieves know where to look
for those, too.

Δ Privacy matters – Don’t post vacation plans or photos on Facebook or Twitter either before
your trip or during. You cannot control who sees your updates. Resist the temptation of
making your friends jealous with details of your vacation plans until you have returned.

Δ Leave the lights on – Make it appear you haven’t left home at all. Stop your mail and
newspaper delivery. Set timers for inside lights to go on and off, and even the television.
Don’t leave the porch light on continuously, that could signal you are not at home.

Δ Periodic check – Have a neighbor or friend periodically check on your home while you
are gone. Collect flyers from the front door, take in and out the trash cans, and even
check to make sure there hasn’t been a water leak. It always seems like disaster
strikes when you are gone.

Δ Don’t forget tiny invaders – Bugs can also take advantage of empty homes. Before
you leave, make sure all of the trash cans are emptied and cleaned. Don’t leave dirty
dishes in the sink and wipe away stray crumbs.

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