How to Keep Your Home Safe During Holiday Travel

How to Keep Your Home Safe During Holiday Travel
By GrannyGoodEarth, eHow Member

It's that time of year when most of us are thinking about the holidays and seeing our loved ones. For some, that may mean traveling. While we would like to think that this is a time of "peace and good will" for all, we are realistic enough to know that it isn't always the case. The number of robberies and home invasions are up, perhaps due to the poor economy. You need to take some common sense steps to protect your home while you travel.

Instructions

1. A good first step is to make it harder for a burglar to get into your home. Remove items like ladders and garbage cans away from the house and locked up in a garage or shed. Placing items like this close to the house gives the burglars a "leg up" into your second story windows; a common break in location.

2. You've probably heard this one before: if you are going to be gone for awhile, have a neighbor or friend, pick up newspapers and mail. Better yet, put a hold on such deliveries.

3. Purchase timers to control lights and televisions throughout the house. Have the timers set at different times so that it appears that someone is home.

4. Here is an internet hint: don't post that you are going on a trip on Face Book or Twitter. The whole world is reading what you write including burglars.

5. If you have a home security system, check that it is working properly and that it is activated when you depart for your trip. You would be surprised how many homeowners forget to activate their system!

Tips & Warnings
• Depending on where you live, you may be able to notify your local police department of your absence and have them do drive-by observations.
• If you are leaving a dog behind be sure to put their collar on them. If you don't have a small ID tag on the collar, you can write your name and phone number inside the collar. Should there be a break in, burglars often set the dogs loose. You want to be sure that your best friend gets back to you.


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