August is vacation month in Minnesota. Our best weather of the season is upon us, the kids are still out of school, and the time is just right to get away for some R&R. Unfortunately, your perfect vacation could be ruined upon your arrival back home when you find your home has been broken into while you were away. As your thoughts are racing through this scene, you wonder what you could have done to prevent this?
While there is no foolproof way to ensure your home will not be burglarized while you’re away, there are smart precautions to take that could help to minimize your home becoming a target for thieves.
Just like a well-planned list of activities for a nice vacation can help make things go smoothly, so can a well-planned vacation security checklist. Some simple suggestions include:
- Stop the mail. An overflowing mailbox or newspapers on the doorstep are great indicators that no one is home.
- Leave your blinds open. One of the first thing a thief is likely to do is close the blinds while they are inside your home. If you arrive back and the blinds are closed, it’s a great early tip that something is amiss.
- Be aware of what you are posting on social media. Post your vacation photos after your return and don’t announce to the world that you’re at the airport awaiting take off. If you must post such things, check your security settings and be sure only those you’ve invited to your networks can see what you’re writing. Set them to private and not public.
- Lock up. This seems so simple, but it’s easy to forget the flip the front door lock especially if you don’t use that entrance very often. Also check windows and side doors to your garage. Be sure they are all secure before leaving.
- Do not leave a spare key on the porch under the potted plants. Burglars know the tricks and will likely find your extra, hidden key!
- Mind your trash. Leaving your cans out when no other neighbors do is another tipoff that you’re not home.
We hope you enjoy your vacation time!