1. Keeping Your House Safe during Your Vacation
The trouble with common knowledge is that the bad
guys know it as well. We all know that when we pack
up and get ready to leave on vacation we are told to
stop the newspaper delivery, ask the postmen to hold
the mail, make sure the house is locked tight and leave
a light burning. These are great suggestions but they
can stand a dusting off.
There is no problem with stopping newspaper
delivery, even a burglar doesn't know if your simply
cancelled your subscription or not, not so with the
mail. Everyone gets mail, even though most of it goes
to junk, so if you stop mail delivery it's a giveaway to a
determined thief. It’s far better to have your neighbor
collect it, take it in the front door and then leave your
house by the back door.
If you just leave a light on 24 hours a day while you are away it looks very unnatural. There are simple
timers that can be programmed to turn the light off during the day and on at night. For a few extra
dollars you can get a timer that can be programmed to turn the light on and off several times making it
appear that someone is home. The same timer can be used to turn the TV or radio on and off which
makes it look even more occupied.
If you have yet to get a Protect America home security system this may be the time to consider the
installation. Plan well ahead if you are going to have the installation because even the best home alarm
company in the country cannot make miracles happen. You may wish to interview several alarm
companies without pressure, and make sure that the system you get is monitored. An audible alarm is
good but you are relying on a neighbor to call the authorities, not so if the system is monitored.
When and if you do install an alarm system, make sure you let the alarm company know you are going
away, give them the dates of your vacation. When you read a Protect America review you will often see
comments alluding to the fact that the companies tend to pay more attention to your home if they
know in advance that you are away.
Over and above the basics and an alarm system, nothing beats all of them combined.