vacation
HOME SECURITY CHECKLIST While you’re enjoying a much-deserved vacation, don’t leave your home unprotected. Here are a few important steps to help keep your home safe while you’re away.
Mow the lawn just before you leave or pay someone to mow it another time while you’re away.
Prune overgrown bushes and low hanging tree branches which may hide and provide access to an upper floor.
Leave your vacation itinerary and contact information with a trusted neighbor.
Hire a house sitter to water your plants, feed your pet and give your house a “lived-in” look. The sitter can stay overnight or check on your house once or twice a day.
Have a neighbor put out your trash and recycling on the correct day and put it away once emptied.
Don’t announce your vacation plans on social media or check in on Facebook from remote locations unless you’re only posting to trusted Friends.
Put a hold on your mail online at holdmail.usps.com or have a neighbor pick up your mail every day.
Make sure all windows are shut and locked. Be sure to use the deadbolt on your doors.
Never hide keys in obvious places (such as under flower pots, doormats, rocks, etc.)
Disconnect your garage door opener so thieves can’t open it with a universal remote. Invest in an alarm system and before you leave, check that it’s communicating with your monitoring service.
Get timers or wireless controllers for your indoor and outdoor lights and set them to go on/off during regular hours. Motion triggered exterior lights are a great deterrent to thieves. Explore options which now allow you to control lighting, electrical outlets, your garage door and even answer your doorbell from a mobile phone app.