How to Secure Your Home While You are Away
It’s estimated that 60% of residential burglaries occur during the daytime hours when homes are unoccupied. Of course, it’s impossible to occupy your home 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, nor would you want to. Most of us must leave our homes during the day for work and for longer stretches of time during vacations or business travel, creating a window of opportunity for burglars to strike. So, how can you secure your home while you are away?
IP Video Surveillance
More and more homeowners are investing in Internet Protocol (IP) video surveillance for their property, and for good reason. Unlike closed-circuit television (CCTV), IP video technology allows homeowners to monitor footage in real-time from a remote location, usually over the Internet.
Video surveillance can secure your home in another way too — it is a strong deterrent because would-be burglars like targets that have the lowest likelihood of them being caught.
Used Timed Lighting
You don’t have to be home to make it appear that your home is occupied. “Presence simulation” means making your home appear to be occupied even when it isn’t. Using timed lighting that turns on/off at various times of the day will create the impression that someone is home.
In addition to timed lighting, other presence simulation techniques include having timers on TVs in different rooms. For example, program a timer to turn a family room TV on early in the evening and a TV in a bedroom or other room turn on a little later.
Don’t Reveal Travel Plans Publicly
Burglars have become increasingly savvy in recent years, using the Internet and social media to determine when homes are unoccupied. Updating your Facebook status to let friends know that you’re on vacation may seem harmless enough, but criminals may also see these posts.
And don’t assume that your posts are private just because you’ve chosen the appropriate privacy settings. If a friend accidentally remains logged into their social media account and someone — a delinquent teenage nephew or an unscrupulous co-worker — happens to see your vacation posts, they’ll know your home will be unoccupied. The bottom line is that you shouldn’t post information about travel plans online, as this increases your risk of being burglarized.
Load Your Car Inside Your Garage
You might not notice them, but the lawn service guy / part-time thief across the street or the teenage delinquents driving by may notice you putting luggage or camping gear into your car — a dead giveaway your home is going to be unoccupied. Try to load your car inside the privacy of your garage.
The same goes for recreational vehicles and campers — can you load your RV at night or behind a gated fence so it’s not so visible from the street?
Use a Monitored Alarm System
The most effective way to secure your home while you are away is to use a monitored alarm system. Unlike most of the DIY alarm systems on the market, monitored systems are watched closely by a professional security company.
If a sensor is tripped, the company will first attempt to contact the homeowner to see if it was a false alarm. If they cannot reach the homeowner, or if the “homeowner” provides the wrong password, they will notify the local police.
Ask a Neighbor for Help
If you plan on being away, ask a neighbor to keep an eye on your property. Most neighbors will gladly watch over your property, because they don’t want crime happening in the neighborhood any more than you do, and you can return the favor when they’re away.
For true peace of mind, you can’t go wrong with having a professional security firm install a system that fits your needs and your budget. Contact Cultris Security Systems at 281-506-8466 or visit us online – we’re here to help!
Image attribution: https://www.flickr.com/photos/diamondbackcovers/
