With stay-at-home orders lifted across the nation, and before summer ends, families are making summer vacation plans. Before packing up the car and heading out to the lake or the woods, it’s smart to consider ways to make your home more secure. There are some simple and inexpensive things that you can do now which can vastly improve your chances of coming home to find your house just the way you left it.
Action Locksmith has some tips that can serve you throughout the year, even when you are not on vacation.
Don’t announce your vacation plans on social media
While your friends and family generally aren’t a source for concern, you do not know friends of friends and others who may have access to your social media posts. To be safe, save your vacation plans and vacation pictures for posting when you return home.
Secure your doors and windows
Always take your house key off your key chain when valet parking your car, as a tech-savvy thief can make a key to your home by simply taking a picture of your house key.1 Also make sure that you temporarily remove that spare key you have hidden under the mat or a nearby rock. If you have sliding glass doors, the easiest thing to do is to put a stick or thick wood dowel in the bottom track of the sliding door. You can buy slide-locking bars online.
You can also fortify the door by changing out the original door locking mechanism with a commercial locking product that features a one- or two-bolt locking system that attaches to the locking point of the door and has steel bolts that secure the door to the frame.2 Window stops, which prevent windows from opening more than several inches, are also a good idea. This is a relatively inexpensive product that can be found online.
Landscape to protect your home
It is always a good idea, no matter the season, to make sure that bushes and trees don’t hide your windows, doors and other access points to your home. Overgrown bushes can allow burglars a place to hide while accessing your home and obstruct your neighbors from witnessing a break-in. Some people choose to plant thorny bushes under window access points as a deterrent. Landscape lighting and motion-activated lighting are also good investments when it comes to thwarting would-be thieves. 3
Make your home look like you’re home
Mail and packages piling up at the doorstep are a sure sign that a home is unoccupied. It is easy to go online or fill out a printed form and request a hold be put on your US Postal Service mail. You can also request that the mail carrier deliver it when you return or you can pick it up at the post office when you return.
Keep your window coverings in their usual position since noticeable changes hint that you’re not home.4 Don’t put a porch light on and have it run continually. Use timers to control both outdoor and indoor lights. These timers can be purchased online for as little as $14.95. There is also an inexpensive device which simulates the patterns of light produced by a television when viewed through curtains. It is called FakeTV and is available for less than $40 on Amazon.com.5
It is also a good idea to move big screen televisions, computers, artwork and other expensive items out of view of windows and doors. Make sure that your jewelry and other valuables and important papers are stored in a home safe that is difficult or impossible to steal.
With a bit of effort, and minimal expense, you can ensure that your home is well-protected as you venture out this summer. Many of these simple tips can also serve homeowners when they are simply going out for the afternoon or the day.
You can be confident your home is protected, especially if you pay attention to these tips. If you have any questions or concerns, a trusted local locksmith can answer questions and provide home security services such as installing new door locks, reinforcing entry doors and frames, installing a camera system and much more.
Action Locksmith has been keeping Michigan homes and businesses safe and up to date for over 30 years. We are a mobile locksmith service that does it all and are available 24 hours a day 7 days a week. If you have an emergency, we’ll be there. Our locksmiths are professional and trained in residential, automotive, and commercial locksmith services.
Our vast experience and knowledge have made us a trusted and respected Michigan business. Call us to learn more about how we can help!