Vacation Security

Good vacation security can save you the heartbreak of returning from a well deserved vacation to find that your home has had a visit from a burglar.

As a general rule a burglar will choose a home where it appears that nobody is in and that nobody is likely to return home soon. A home that looks like the family is away on vacation is ideal in his eyes.

The more vacation security that you apply to reduce the appearance that your home is vacated, the better.

Now the often given advice is not to tell anyone that you are going away on vacation because that information could find its way to a burglar. Good advice, but in the real world people are going to know.

There are some people that will have to know and there are others that don't have to know but will find out.

Your work associates will know that you have taken leave, they don't have to know that you and your family will be away from home of course, but you will likely let it slip to some. If you have kids, try telling them not to talk about the trip they are going on!

The thing is, you are unlikely to be able to keep a trip away from home a secret from everyone, but you should still try and avoid broadcasting the fact.

If you participate in social media don't publicize your vacation in your updates. It's far more than just your online 'friends' that can read your stuff. And remember that your cyber friends are just that, you don't really know them.

By far the best way to ensure that you do not arrive back home from your trip to a burglarized and ransacked home, is to secure the help of a trusted neighbor or friend. This friend is going to have access to your home and be responsible for your vacation security. It has to be someone you can completely trust.

Arrange for your friend to park a vehicle on your drive and to periodically move it to give the impression that it is being used, that activity is taking place in your home.

Ask your friend to keep your grass cut and your yard in ship shape condition. A neglected garden will be a big clue to a burglar that there has not been anyone at home for a few days, especially if neighbors gardens are well cared for.

Don't forget that it does not take long for grass to start to look parched in the hot weather. Ask your friend to water your lawn and flowerbeds as well.

And for your winter vacation security – Ask that good ol' friend to clear your paths of any snow, just like you would if at home.

How about your lighting? Does your home stay dark all evening and night? Not a good idea. Time switches can be employed to give the illusion that your home is occupied.

Set the timers to give the impression of activity, people moving from room to room. This is a good measure, not only for vacation security but all year round protection.

Make a last minute check before you leave. All doors and windows locked? Home CCTV and alarm system set? If you have a monitored alarm system don't forget to inform the monitoring center that you are going away.

Good vacation security means that you can relax and enjoy your family trip.

Make sure that your helpful friend or neighbor knows how to activate an deactivate your alarm and surveillance systems.

How about your mail? You know that it is not a good idea to let mail pile up. You can of course have your mail stopped for the period that you are away. Don't forget that you will need to give adequate notice.

But if anyone was watching your home and saw that the mail carrier was passing it by each day, they would get wise to the fact it is vacated. Better to get that faithful friend or neighbor to collect your mail. At the same time they can collect advertising fliers to stop them piling up also.

Make sure your telephone answer machine does not give any clue of your absence. You should not, of course, leave a message that says you are away from home. Just say you can't get to the phone. Have the message set to cut in before too many rings.

It is a mistake to close all the drapes around your home, doing so sends a message that it is unoccupied. Leave at least some drapes open, but try and avoid leaving valuable items on view to an intruder looking through the window.

If someone is keeping watch on your home while you are on vacation, ask them to periodically open and close drapes and blinds.

Don't switch off your air conditioning in the summer. If your air compressor is not running in the heat it will be a clue your house is vacant.

Ask your neighbor to put out your trash and recycling cans on collection days, (and bring them in too.)

Just one more vacation security task to ask of your pal. Remove any trash ( soda cans for example) or other objects that have found their way onto your drive or into your front yard. Burglars sometimes throw 'something' onto the drive of a house that they suspect is not occupied. They return in a few days and if the object hasn't been removed it confirms their suspicions. See The Burglar And The Training Shoe.

Does all this keeping a watch on your home while you are on vacation seem a little too much to ask of a friend or neighbor? It is not really, you can always return the favor when they are on a trip.

And with your trusted friend taking care of your vacation security you can relax and really get the benefit of your holiday.

© copyright surveillanceforsecurity.com