Home Security for Vacationing

Keeping your home secure when you're on vacation

Many hours are put into planning a great vacation. A vacation is a time to relax. It is not a time to worry about the security of the home that was left behind. The key to keeping an empty house safe is to create the illusion of occupancy at all times. The security of the home can be significantly increased with the following simple precautions.

• Keep the dates of the vacation a secret from anyone who does not have a need to know.
• Do not change the answering machine to alert callers about a vacation. It may seem like a good idea in order to notify business associates and friends, but it is an advertisement of an empty home to anyone who happens to call.
• Use timers on a few lights so that the house is never completely dark. Program the timers for randomness (lights come on at different times on different days) in order to prevent an obvious pattern from being noticed by a burglar that might be stalking the house.
• Either put newspaper and mail services on hold, or have them collected by a trustworthy friend or relative.
• Leave a car parked in the driveway.
• If the vacation is longer than a week, consider having a neighbor or friend maintain the yard.
• Store any valuables in a safe that is hidden away from any place viewable through the windows.
• Before you leave, do not forget to double-check all locks on doors and windows and to arm the security system.

If the home does not contain a home security system, take the time to consider purchasing one. Security systems are very effective deterrents against thieves. Homes that are protected with security systems are far less likely to be targeted. Therefore, the worry of being burglarized is decreased at all times, not just when the home is left alone.

Installing an alarm for your house is the best bet in crime prevention. With an actively monitored alarm house from Protect America, you can rest easy knowing that your home and family are protected 24 hours a day.