Taking a Vacation
A vacation, a weekend away from home or a business trip should be a pleasant experience for you and your family. An empty house (or one that looks that way!) is a tempting target for a burglar. You can help make each trip more enjoyable by taking a few simple steps to reduce the possibility that your home will be broken into while you are gone traveling...
- Make sure any broken windows, door or window locks are repaired.
- Ask a neighbor to watch the house while you're away. It's a good idea to leave your vacation address and telephone number with a neighbor so you can be reached in case of an emergency.
- Never leave your house key hidden outside your home.
- Stop all deliveries, or arrange for a neighbor to pick up your mail.
- Arrange for someone to mow your lawn, rake leaves and maintain the yard to give the home a lived-in look.
- Have a neighbor place garbage cans at the curb on your normal pickup days and return them after the garbage pickup is made.
- Plug in timers to turn lights and a radio or television on and off at appropriate times. This helps to disguise the fact that you are away.
- Turn the bell or ringer on your telephone down low.
- Don't announce your absence on answering machine messages.
- Leave your blinds, shades and curtains in a normal position. Don't close them unless that is what you do when you are home.
- Close and lock garage doors and windows. Ask a neighbor to occasionally park in your driveway. Park your car normally.
- Consider taking valuables to a bank safe deposit box.
- Engrave your valuables as recommended in Operation ID.
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