GET A HOME MONITORING SYSTEM
Home security is absolutely essential and there's many options to choose from, so make sure you opt for one that fits your home. Some home security systems even allow you to view live video remotely from your phone so you can see what's happening in real time. This small investment is well worth your peace of mind!
KEEP UP ON REGULAR HOME MAINTENANCE
Do you normally have gardeners keep up your lawn and landscaping? Weekly visits from the pool guy? Keep these schedules. If any potential thief is staking out houses, they'll notice if something is off.
LEAVE A KEY WITH A FRIEND OR FAMILY MEMBER
Fully stuffed mailboxes & yellowing newspapers piled in the driveway are dead giveaways that you are not home. If you don't have a friend or family member available to stop by your house while your gone to bring in the paper & the mail, contact your newspaper service to stop deliveries & fill out a mail hold form.
KEEP A LOW PROFILE ON SOCIAL MEDIA
Its well known that you shouldn't advertise vacations online before taking off on your trip. You don't want to mention you may be going out of town, have vacation time coming up, and remember not to "check in" on social media while your on vacation. Also, double checking your social media sites to ensure your address is not readily available to anyone seeking it.
LOCK UP VALUABLES IN A SAFE
Any run of the mill thieve knows to check the bedroom first for valuables, so get a safe to keep them secure. If shelling out money for a safe isn't an option, put valuables somewhere unusual like a kitchen pantry or bathroom closet in an inconspicuous container.
DON'T LEAVE A HIDE-A-KEY
I can tell you from personal experience that potential thieves will look for the hidden key, and they will find it. The spare key is the one you should be giving to a friend or family member.
INSTALL AN OUTDOOR SENSOR LIGHT
Its simple to install for those of you who aren't tech savvy, & you can pick one up on Amazon for less than $20. Motion sensor flood lights can also prove to be useful year round for general home security whether you're home or not. You can have them turn off or on at certain times & also highly recommend setting up a few timers for your indoor lights. By doing this your giving the impression that someone is home.
DISCONNECT YOUR GARAGE DOOR
Sometimes can be hacked by experienced hackers. Garage door openers, depending on the brand, can sometimes be opened by universal remotes. Disengage your garage door opener & opt for a manual lock.
ADVERTISE YOUR SECURITY
Having a security system will most definitely deter burglars, so advertise it. Post these stickers near your most obvious entry points like your front & back door, as well as side doors off your garage. You can even buy a pack of stickers if you haven't been able to implement your security system before your trip.