Keep your home safe while on holiday with these tips

MOKOPANE – There are a few security measures that you have to take in consideration before you jump in the car and spend a glorious week or more on vacation with your family.

When you start to plan your vacation add to your vacation checklist a security checklist.

This would not only help to get the family out the door on time, but keep the house in tip-top shape while you were away.

There are of course instances where no amount of preparation would have prevented a break in. But with a few simple steps, you can lower your home’s risk of being targeted and infiltrated by burglars.

The website Art of Manliness gave the following tips on how to protect your home while on vacation.

• One of the best ways to protect your home is to be a good neighbour and look after each other’s place when not there. They’re the first line of defense while you’re gone, and you can return the favour when they’re away. You’ll also want to give them your vacation contact information, just in case of emergency.

• Ask friends and family to check up on the place a couple times a week while you’re gone.

• Call your local neighbourhood watch or security company and let them know you’ll be going on vacation. they’ll send an patrol or two through your neighbourhood just to establish a presence.

• Install timers on your electronics, a dark house or the same lights burning at night for a week straight is a sure sign that someone is on vacation. Timers will turn your lights and other electronics on and off at certain times of the day.

• Have someone mow the lawn, sweep the driveway and tend to the garden. The biggest give away that someone is away from home are an unkempt lawn.

• Have someone take the trash out, when trash sits in a garage or outside for a week or more, it can attract burglars more prone to snooping around. It’s also a visual cue to burglars if everyone else’s cans are empty in the neighbourhood and yours not.

• Stop mail and newspaper deliveries or let someone take out your mail. An overflowing mailbox is a clear indication that someone hasn’t been home for a while

• Leave the blinds open if you’re someone who regularly leaves the blinds open in your home during the day, don’t go closing them when you leave for vacation. It’s also an obvious giveaway to burglars that you are on vacation. If you have electronics on a timer close the blinds halfway, or close them strategically so that certain areas or rooms are hidden, while blinds in other areas remain open.

• Beware of social media don’t instantly share you are on vacation on social media for the entire world to see. Rather wait until you are home to share all your photos.

• Lock everything while it seems like common sense, be sure to lock every single possible entry to your home and all inside doors. Before you leave for a vacation though, go through the house and lock every window and door.

• Don’t leave spare keys in you house, leave them with family or friends that’s not going on holiday.

• Don’t lead burglars to your home with your GPS. Many GPS’s, either the portable or built-in, has led thieves directly to victims homes.

• Put all your valuables in a safe.

• Hire a house sitter. One option that covers many of these tasks is to hire a house sitter. Whether a family member, a friend, or other acquaintance. Having someone actually stay at your home to care for and keep an eye on it is a great way to ensure its safety.

If you have someone trusted who is convenient to your location, plants can be watered, mail can be taken care of, and the house and even your animals can generally be cared for in one fell swoop.

redaksie.bosvelder@nmgroup.co.za