Home Security: Protect Your Home While You Are Away On Vacation

Burglars are more likely to strike your home if they know your house is unoccupied. So an important aspect of your home security plan should be to make your house look like someone is home at all times. This especially includes times when you are away for long periods of times such as when you go on vacation.

There are things you can do which will make it less obvious that no one is at home. If you take steps to make your home look occupied, then while you are away on your trip, you can rest assured that you have done all you can to keep your home and valuables safe. So when you are planning your next vacation, take a moment to plan what home security steps you will take to protect your home while you are gone.

First of all, make sure that your mail and newspapers don't accumulate on your porch. For added home security, your mailbox should not be visible from the street. If you can, install a mailbox that is large enough to hold a large amount of mail and still close so if someone is watching your home they won't see mail sticking out of your box. Arrange to have a neighbor or family member to come each evening and pick up your newspaper and mail or you can have the post office and newspaper to hold your deliveries until you return.

Leave a car parked in your driveway if possible. If it is winter and snow is covering the ground, ask your neighbors if they will walk a path from the car or street to your door so footprints will show in the snow and make it look like someone is home. If you will be gone for several weeks over the summer, you may need to have someone come in and mow your grass so your property doesn't look abandoned or neglected.

If someone is coming to pick up your mail each evening, ask them to also turn on/ off lights in various rooms, as well as turning on the television or radio. Better still, put your lights and television on a timer system so they will turn off and on at preset times so it looks more like someone is inside the house.

If you can afford it, consider hiring a house sitter that comes with good references, or ask a friend to stay in your home while you are away. The more activity around your home, the less likely a burglar will think it is empty and attempt a break in.

Be sure that whoever you have watching your home has a number to contact you and has your permission to notify the police if something seems to be wrong at your home. Let your alarm monitoring service know that you will be away also.

To maintain adequate home security all year round, you should take steps to make sure your home always looks occupied even if you are only away for the day. However, being gone for extended times such as when you are on vacation requires some forethought and effort. It will be worth it though because you will be able to relax while on your trip, knowing everything is safe back home.