Business and pleasure travelers have have some travel concerns and preparations in common, and one of those is having to worry about what’s happening at home while we’re on the road.
If you have family or friends staying in your home while you’re traveling, it reduces a lot of concerns. But if your home will remain empty, make sure that you aren’t sending a signal to potential burglars to come on in and help themselves.
Here are ten tips to help keep the burglars away while you are:
- Let neighbors know that you will be away. Neighbors are generally the first to notice what could be suspicious behavior, and this is one time that a nosy neighbor will be welcome. (If you live in an apartment or other managed building, advise the property manager and doormen. They can help prevent any unauthorized access to your unit.) Ask neighbors for help in picking up those annoying unsolicited flyers left on doorsteps.
- Try to get a friend or family member to stop by on an erratic schedule to check on the house. An occasional car in the drive way, changing of light patterns, etc., can help make the house look occupied. This is also an additional help in picking up unsolicited flyers.
- Make sure that you don’t have a key “hidden” by the door. Under the mat, above the door frame, or in the flower pots are not clever hiding places. Give a key to anyone who needs to have it.
- Have a car parked in the driveway, in front on the house, or in your assigned parking place if at all possible. It will help to make it look like someone is home.
- Stop the newspaper and mail service. You don’t need this piling up. Stopping the mail can be done online, and stopping newspaper service varies according the location.
- Keep up regularly scheduled appointment such as gardening, lawn care, and housekeeping services. An untended lawn or garden can signal an absent owner. Keep as many consistencies to your normal scheduled as possible. Ask workers to help pick up unsolicited flyers left on your doorstep.
- Set indoor lights on automatic timers, preferably with a random schedule. Vary the specific lights and times that they will come on.
- Turn off the phone ringer, and turn down the volume on the answering machine. This is especially important in an apartment building, where a constantly ringing phone can signal an empty apartment.
- Do not leave an answering machine or voice mail message saying that your are traveling or gone. Don’t leave an out-of-office message on your office phone, unless required to do so by your employer. Don’t let the “I’m on vacation” message get out to anyone who doesn’t need to have it. You control the information.
- Make sure you have appropriate insurance. No one wants to think about being the victim of a burglary, but being prepared in still an important option.
How about you? Do you have other things that you do so it looks like you’re home — even when you’re not?
Photo credit: SXC
NOTE: This post was sponsored by kent washington insurance. The opinions contained herein are my own.
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