| When you're going to be out of the house for | | | | from the inside, makes a major difference in how |
| awhile, there are definitely steps that you should | | | | your house manages to stay safe. |
| try to take to ensure that everything is fine | | | | Likewise, it is making sure that those smaller |
| when you return. This is particularly true if you | | | | steps are taken, too. If there are deadbolts on |
| happen to be taking your vacation time at the | | | | doors, make sure that when you're locking up |
| same moment that many others are, like on busy | | | | before hitting the road, that you make sure that |
| holiday weekends. Because of the fact that so | | | | these are as locked as the doorknob locks. If you |
| many people hit the road for these special | | | | are able to take special measures for the |
| occasions, robbers who might not already be | | | | windows, such as screwing in small screws so |
| planning some big heists are often taking the time | | | | that it's impossible to lift them out of the frame, |
| to case entire neighborhoods, looking for just the | | | | or placing rulers so that they cannot be forced |
| right house that might be a good pick. | | | | open, then this is also a great way to increase |
| To ensure that your home is not a target, it | | | | your home security while on vacation. If it takes |
| takes a whole lot more than just remembering to | | | | longer to break into a house, after all, robbers are |
| set the home alarm system before heading off | | | | far more likely to give up and head elsewhere. |
| on vacation (though this is obviously important as | | | | Of course, part of the idea of planning the right |
| well). It also takes the kind of tenacity and | | | | steps before heading off on vacation is making |
| forethought to plan and make a regular schedule | | | | sure that your house doesn't actually look |
| for steps to make your home safer, then to also | | | | deserted. This is accomplished by being sure that |
| remember and ensure that all members of the | | | | you leave some lights on, or better yet, setting a |
| family know what to do to make it happen. After | | | | timer that makes it possible for the lights--inside |
| all, there is not much that can be done about | | | | and out--to be activated on a timer. Likewise, try |
| your home's safety once you are on the road for | | | | to make sure to cancel newspaper and mail |
| a vacation, so it's important to take the time to | | | | delivery, as these tend to accumulate if you are |
| accomplish the right things before you even hit | | | | gone for too long, leaving a pile of evidence to a |
| the road. | | | | robber that someone isn't quite home right now. |
| The first and most important step in making sure | | | | Remember that home security while you're on |
| that your house is ready for an extended | | | | vacation is about a whole lot more than just |
| absence is making sure that everything that can | | | | keeping robbers out, too. Make sure that you turn |
| be locked and shut is in fact locked and shut. This | | | | off all coffee pots, all irons, and stoves. Do not |
| is a major part of home security because while | | | | leave too many electronic devices plugged into a |
| robbers might attempt to case your home to | | | | single power strip, as this can cause a surge or |
| figure out the best way to get in, if all that it | | | | power overload, leading to potential danger while |
| takes is swinging a door open or forcing up a | | | | you're on vacation. After all, it's a lot less stressful |
| window, they are going to be far more likely to | | | | to take the right steps ahead of time, making |
| spend time robbing you blind. Being sure that all | | | | sure that when you do return home, all is waiting |
| doors and windows are not just shut, but locked | | | | for you just how you left it. |