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Preparing
Your Home For Vacation
Printable
Article (PDF) | Download
PDF Reader > Additional
Tips
Turn Up Lights | Lock
It Up | Be
Able to Get Out | Don't
Help Intruders | Gone a
Few Days
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Awww summertime, the busiest time for
traveling and vacations. We spend so much
time in the preparation of the vacation…reservations,
mapping, room accommodations, meals, packing,
maintenance on the vehicle…but do
we make the plans for a secure home while
we are gone? Some of you may have your
neighbors looking after your home, but
have you really prepared your home
for criminals scouting for that “vacant
look”?
Thieves cruise neighborhoods, especially
during vacation time, looking for easy
targets and obvious signs that people are
away. Before you drive out for your relaxing
vacation, you might want to take a walk
around the perimeter of your property and
objectively look at its vulnerability.
Try looking at it through the eyes of a
burglar, and make a checklist of things
to change or take care of before you leave.
The
Home & Safety Council has some
great tips for you to put on your checklist
of “To-Do-Before-Vacation” items.
Some may say that if a burglar wants to
get in, they will find a way. I say, why
give them easy access…make it as
difficult as possible…it could mean
the difference of the burglar giving up
or being caught!
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Turn
Up the Lights |
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- Put bright
lights over porches and walkways in the front
and back.
If you have security lights, make
sure they and all others are in working order.
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Lock
It Up |
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- All
doors to the outside should have working
locks.
- Garage and shed doors need working
locks too.
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- All windows should
have working locks.
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- Keep
all doors to the outside, sliding doors,
and windows locked.
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Be
Able to Get Out |
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- Make
sure everyone can open all locks
from inside your home.
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- Don’t have deadbolt
locks that lock with an inside
key. You need to get out fast if
a fire starts. A missing key could
trap you inside.
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- Replace
inside-key locks with deadbolt locks
that have a “thumb turn” instead
of an indoor key.
- Make
sure everyone in your family
can reach the “thumb turn” latch.
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- All
windows should have working locks.
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- If
you have security bars on doors and
windows, have a “quick-release” latch.
This makes it easy to get outside in
an emergency.
- Make sure everyone in your
family knows how to use the
latch.
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Don't
Help Intruders |
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- Keep
bushes and shrubs trimmed under windows
so burglars can’t hide.
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- Keep
ladders stored in a locked shed or
garage so they cannot be used to
climb into your home.
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- Keep
shades or curtains closed over garage
and shed windows.
- Keep
shades or curtains closed over your
home windows after dark, especially
if you have your lights on timers.
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- Don’t
leave toys, tools and equipment in
the yard.
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When
You Are Gone a Few Days |
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- Make
your home look as if someone is
there.
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Do yard work before you leave.
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- Have
a family member or friend bring in
your mail and newspaper while you
are gone.
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Additional
Tips |
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- Ask
a neighbor to take in the newspaper, mail
and any other
deliveries. Make sure your neighbor has a way
of contacting you incase of an emergency. I
like to give them our cell numbers, and let
them know where we will be staying.
- If
you are going to be gone a long period
of time, you might arrange for someone
to mow your yard.
- If
you have any standing monthly deliveries,
and do not have a neighbor who will be
able to collect your newspapers or mail
you should
cancel them until you return.
- Ask
a family member, friend or neighbor if
they have a car they could park in your
driveway to give the appearance of someone
being home.
- Use
timers to activate inside lighting, radios
or TVs.
- Set
your telephone answering machine so that
the rings don’t exceed three
rings. A telephone ringing for a long
time many
times through the day and night is an
indicator that someone is not home. You
may also
choose to turn the ringer down, or disconnect
the
phone.
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Make sure your spare house keys aren’t
available to burglars; strategically hidden
somewhere outside. Give your spare key
to a trusted neighbor.
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Whatever
you choose to do and where ever you choose
to vacation, remember this: a vacation should
be just that, vacate from worries and troubles
and enjoy a little bit of life and living.
Do what you can for home safety and enjoy
your much-deserved vacation! |
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