CT Residential Locksmith, Home Safety

Vacation time is break-in time

You’ve been working hard all year and are looking forward to some well deserved time off…

…a little bit of preparation before you start vacation will help keep your property safe. Whether it’s going on a cruise or visiting family and friends back home, packing your suitcase isn’t the only thing you need to do before you leave. Making sure that your home is safe and secure while you’re away is on the top of the agenda.
Keep burglars out

Here are three tips on what to do before you start your vacation:

  1. Eliminate “weak spots” –
    Often burglars get access to your home through patio doors and windows that face the back of the house. Trim back shrubs and greenery around windows and doors and secure patio doors with a safety bar to kep the door from sliding horizontally. These bars are usually mounted on the door jamb opposite the sliding door panel. Most of them come with a retaining bracket to keep the bar out of the way when not being used.
  2. Let the uninvited guests know that someone is there –
    Most burglaries occur in houses that give the impression of being unoccupied. Avoid anything that could indicate that you’re on vacation. Ask your neighbor to bring in your mail and newspaper, or stop newspaper delivery all together for the time that you’re away. Turn your lights and TV on with an automatic timer, but let yor neighbor know that this is planned, otherwise they might call the police when they hear noise coming from your house. Don’t ever announce on your voice mail or on social media that you’re on a trip.
  3. Get a living and breathing alarm system –
    Your immediate neighbors are your best security. One of the neighbors can collect your mail but all of your neighbors can keep an eye out for any suspicious activity around your property. As a rule burglars tend to keep a property of interest under surveillance before they strike. A neighbor will notice if somebody is sitting in a parked car in front of your house all day and can notify the police.

Jim Arsenault is a Connecticut licensed Master Locksmith with over 30 years experience. He can help you make your Connecticut home more secure. Email Jim or give him a call at 860-678-9797.

Image courtesy of West Midlands Police, West Midlands, UK, released under the Creative Commons License.