Safety 101: Keeping Your Home and Property Safe When You’re Away

I love the hustle and bustle that various seasons inherently bring. I find myself busy at work, busy running errands, busy with my kids, busy with friends and family and busy traveling. It’s wonderful! Sadly, I know that while I’m living life to the fullest, criminals are using my busyness as a free pass to violate my space and make my prized possessions their own. 

Many experts have given advice: don’t tell others when you are traveling… always leave the lights on… While that is excellent advice, the reality is we can’t always keep our travel plans a secret and lights on don’t always deter a criminal. Actually, today’s criminal doesn’t care if you’re home and knows more about lights set to a timer than you or I ever will.

Here’s an updated look at tips and tactics: 

• Every time you are outside of your home, secure it – lock those doors and windows. Make it as hard as possible for someone to gain entry. 
• Turn your alarm on, ALWAYS. 
• Alert your alarm company if you will be traveling and UPDATE the numbers they have on file in case your alarm goes off. What good is it if they spend time trying to call you when you’re overseas? Give them the local number of someone you’ve asked to watch over your home. 
• Alert your local police department. Many local police departments will do random “drive bys” of your property when you’ve let them know you’ll be away. 
• Store valuables (jewelry, vital records and keys to other cars on the property) in a safe deposit box. 
• If possible, install a surveillance camera. Capturing any imagery of a thief can help law enforcement solve your case quickly and effectively. 

And last but not least, brag about your efforts! Let everyone know you take the safety of yourself and your property seriously. You know who this message will resonate the most with? Thieves. They want an easy target. Don’t be one!