1. Make it look like someone is home
sure to set timers for devices to turn on and off all day and night. You want to make it look like someone is always home - especially at night - so potential burglars will think not enter your home. Set switches for lights and other devices that make noise, like your TV or music player. If you do not set the timers, you can always opt for a home automation application that lets you control things from your smartphone.
2. Tell a neighbor you go away
Ask a trusted friend, family member or neighbor to take care of your home while you are away is always a good idea. If you have someone who lives near you trust, you can ask them to bring any mail or packages that are delivered when you are away to keep away burglars who may be watching your house. Ask them to take your garbage and recycling bins in the street to pick up so that nothing starts accumulating as well. If you can not get someone to come by your house, be sure to cancel or postpone deliveries of newspapers and magazines regularly while you are away.
3. Do not hide a key
If you organize someone to stop and check on your home while you are away, give them the key before leaving. Hiding a key may sound like a good idea, but most burglars know where to look. Face it, those fake rocks do not fool anyone. Instead, you can use the intelligent function lock of the door that many home security systems offer. This allows you to disable and to remotely activate your home security system to let in pet sitters, house cleaners or any other person to come by.
4. Secure windows and doors
Before leaving, check your home to make sure all windows and doors are closed and locked, including garage doors. Do not leave the keys in your car, at work or anything in sight, because it serves as an invitation for thieves to enter your home.
5. Arm your home security system
This one seems obvious, but in the excitement of preparing for a trip, it can slip your mind. Having a yard sign and a home security system is useless unless you actively use it. ADT has an application, ADT Pulse, which allows you to arm your system on the go if you forget to do this before you leave home. Vivint, Protect America and SimpliSafe also have mobile applications with similar functionality.
Not having a home security system? Check our home security reviews to see which system will work best for your home.