July is the most popular month for vacations, with 44 percent of Americans taking at least one summer vacation saying they would vacation that month according to Morpace Omnibus.
The FBI reports that crime rates increase approximately 10% in June, July, and August. 87% of burglaries are considered preventable and that approximately 30% of all burglaries are committed without force courtesy of an unlocked door or window. The simple reason for the crime rise could be because people let their guards down. In the rush to get ready for vacation, home security is often forgotten.
The moral of this story is to take a few extra minutes to secure your home before you take off on that well deserved vacation. Here are some tips to help you relax on vacation knowing your home is safe and secure.
Burglars won't find your home an "easy mark" if they are forced to work in the light, if they have to take a lot of time breaking in, or if they can't break in without making a lot of noise. Research shows that if it takes more than four or five minutes to break into a home, the burglar will go elsewhere.
Below are some tips from our friends at the Insurance Information Institute.
Take Time to “Case” Your Home
Where is the easiest entry? How can you make it more burglar-resistant?
- Trim trees and shrubs near doors and windows and think carefully before installing a high, wooden fence around your back yard. High fences and shrubbery can add to your privacy and also be an asset to a burglar.
- Force any would-be burglar to confront a real enemy – light. Exterior lights and motion detectors mounted out of easy reach can reduce the darkness a burglar finds comforting.
- Simple security devices – nails, screws, padlocks, door and window locks, gates, bars and bolts – can increase the amount of time it takes to break into your home.
- Invest in a burglar alarm. The most effective ones also notify an outside monitoring service.
- Are any of your valuables—paintings, a silver collection or a computer—easy to see from outside the house? Rearranging your furnishings might be advisable if it makes your home less inviting to criminals.
Vacation Tips
- Stay off social media. Don’t post travel plans, “check-in”, or post photos while you are away.
- Have mail and packages picked up, forwarded, or held by the post office.
- Lower the sound of you telephone ringer and answering machine so they can’t be heard outside.
- Arrange to have your lawn mowed.
- Stop newspaper deliveries.
- Ask a friend or neighbor to pick up “throw away” newspapers and circulars.
- Use automatic timers to torn lights on and off in various parts of the house at appropriate times. Consider connecting a radio to a timer.
- Tell police and dependable neighbors when you plan to be away and join with your neighbors to keep a close watch on what’s happening in your area.
- Put all tools and ladders away after you’ve used them. Ladders can be used to climb in second story windows and tools like hammers or screwdrivers can be used to gain entry.
At Dean & Draper we wish you a relaxing and safe vacation. We also welcome your calls and questions about your home owner insurance coverage.
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