Keeping Your Home Safe While You’re Away

When leaving your home, whether for a weekend getaway or an extended vacation, you’ll want to take some basic safety precautions to keep your house and belongings safe.

• Keep windows and doors locked at all times. Exterior doors should have deadbolts. Lock all garage doors.
• Windows and doors should be secured with auxiliary locks. Special door pins, available at most home improvement stores, can prevent sliding doors from being lifted from their tracks during a burglary attempt.
• Never hide or store keys or tools outside. Disconnect automatic garage door openers.
• Make your home appear occupied by attaching timers to lights and televisions and set them to turn on at different times.
• Have your newspaper and mail held. Open some of the drapes or blinds on windows. During daytime hours, it gives the appearance that someone is home, and during the evening, lights inside the house are more visible.
• Never announce your vacation plans on social networks, such as Facebook, Twitter, etc.
• Consider hiring a house or pet sitter or have a trusted friend or neighbor periodically watch your house for anything out of the ordinary.