I’m a member of Master Lock’s Live Secure Safety Squad and have been compensated for my time in writing this post.
June is both National Safety Month as well as Home Safety Month so it’s a great time to think about how to keep your house safe while you and your family go on summer vacation.
While you’re out of town, you want to ensure your house and your belongings aren’t at risk.
Here are 25 tips to keep your home secure this summer…
- Get a house sitter or a friend to check on your house regularly and remove any flyers left on your doorstep or bring in the garbage cans.
- Pause mail and newspaper deliveries. Upon request, the post office will hold mail for up to 30 days.
- Be careful what you share on social media. You may want to avoid announcing you’re going on vacation and resist sharing your travel photos while you’re away. Also, let your kids know that they also shouldn’t post on social media about the house being empty. (That’s a tough one… especially if you’re a social media addict like I am.)
- Don’t leave a message on your voice mail saying you’re out of town.
- Let your neighbours know you’ll be out of town and give them a phone number to contact you in an emergency.
- Use light timers to turn lights on and off and possibly the radio or TV.
- Mow your lawn before you leave or schedule someone to mow it while you’re away. If the leaves are falling, arrange to have someone rake for you.
- Don’t leave a GPS in your car at the airport. It can show thieves where you live and they’ll know you’re out of town.
- Use a monitored home alarm system. You may want to contact them ahead of time to let them know you will be out of town.
- Take a look at your house from the outside to see if any valuables are visible.
- Install deadbolts on your doors.
- If you have sliding doors or windows, make them more difficult to break into by placing a metal rod in the sliding track.
- Disable your automatic garage door opener by unplugging the power.
- Don’t hide a key outside. If you have to store spare keys to give access to a friend to check on your house while you’re gone, you can use a Portable Key Safe.
- If your garage has windows, use window coverings or have your windows tinted so thieves don’t see your car is missing and/or see other valuables.
- Consider using a remote app to turn on/off lights, alarm systems etc at different times of day. You may want to use camera enabled software to really keep an eye on your home while you’re away.
- Turn the ringer volume down on any phones so burglars can’t hear them ring while outside.
- Don’t leave ladders or tools accessible that would make a thief’s job easier.
- Keep your blinds or window shades in the same position you normally would.
- Ensure trees, bushes or shrubs are trimmed back from windows and doors so that they don’t block visibility.
- Make sure you don’t have an alarm clock set to go off automatically.
- Use a home safe that is attached to the floor or a built-in shelf and keep it away from the master bedroom or closet.
- Use motion-sensor lights near the garage, backyard, front door and any other dark areas.
- Engrave your driver’s license number into your television, computers and other electronics. Also you may want to take photos of your valuables and record model and serial numbers and store those offsite.
- What if a thief steals your computer? Are your passwords and secure data accessible? Keep them secure online with a service such as Master Lock Vault.
If you follow these tips, you’ll have complete peace of mind on your holiday. Enjoy!
Written by Susan Carraretto, co-founder of 5 Minutes for Mom
Talk with me: @5minutesformom and Facebook.com/5minutesformom
Pin with me at http://pinterest.com/5minutesformom/
These are all fantastic tips! I always try to stop my mail and paper if I can remember. Nothing more obvious that you aren’t home than newspapers all over you driveway and mail overflowing out of your mailbox. Thanks for posting!
Very useful tips and advice on home security, thanks for sharing with us.
With the increasing incidents of theft it is important to install a locking system which provide maximum protection along with some quality alarm system. People often remain to keep their land line phones in silent which invited the attention of burglars.
You have posted some wonderful tips. It always helps to be aware of what you are letting people know over the web about your comings and goings.
These are all excellent tips.
When we are away on vacation or visiting friends and family my neighbor keeps and eye on everything for us.
Of a evening she comes to feed our fur babies and turns the porch and foyer light on so it looks as if someone is here.
She also watches for any boxes and places our mail inside.
We do the same for them when they are away from home.
jweezie43[at]gmail[dot]com
These are some good ideas. It’s so horrible to have your home broken into.
some awesome points and tips
Great tips! I really like the tip to use timers for the lights.
Being prepared is important and much easier than dealing with the aftermath of a burglary.
I am glad that I find these tips, security is the biggest concern while leaving my home. I hope after following these tips I can leave my hope without any worries.
these are great tips, a lot i’ve never thought of. we don’t go on vacation often or for very long, but we will keep these in mind for next time.
Hi Susan,
You have laid great tips here. I want to add tips that I usually do when I leave my home for several days.
1. Create a condition around your home as you are inside. Put ball, sandals or other small stuff that are commonly left outside your home.
2. Disconnect phone cable.
3. If you have many valuable jewelry, keep it inside deposit box in your bank account. It costs you a small fee.
Those are what I usually do. They work for me.
Very good tips!
I do most of these.
I wish people would STOP sharing on social media everytime they are leaving home! So stupid really!
Yes, the issue of sharing when you’re going on vacation on social media is such a tough one… It’s a fun time to share something exciting you’re doing and a perfect time to Instagram. But sadly… it can tip off a burglar.