Vacation planning: Ten steps to securing your home
Clothes. Check.
Sun lotion. Check.
Toothbrush. Check.
Tickets and passport: Check.
The list of things to pack is getting shorter.
As you prepare for vacation, be sure to leave enough time to get your home or apartment ready, too. Who wants to return from vacation to a home that has had a break-in or burglary?
The two basic principles of securing your home while you’re away are: Make it look like you’ve never left, and don’t make it easy for an intruder to get inside.
According to the Philadelphia Police Department, most burglars don’t plan much. They look for something worth stealing, easy access with low visibility and a home that’s unoccupied.
Your advance planning can head off potential crimes. In addition to locking up and putting lights on timers, here are 10 more things you can do to make your home look lived-in while you’re away:
- Don’t stop your mail; ask a neighbor or friend to pick up your mail and/or newspapers every day.
- Have your phone calls forwarded. Burglars sometimes check to see if someone is home by calling.
- If you use an answering machine instead of forwarding your calls, don’t mention that you’re away in your message. Turn the phone ringer down.
- If you’re away on garbage day, ask a neighbor or friend to put your garbage cans out to the street and take them back in.
- Instead of leaving keys outside of your home, give one to a trusted neighbor.
- Activate your home alarm, if you have one.
- Don’t leave valuables in view from a window.
- Have a neighbor park a car in your driveway.
- Always tell a trusted neighbor about your plans and how to contact you in case of emergency.
- Have your grass mowed and yard tended.
- If you’re going to be away for an extended period, ask your local police to check your home periodically.
And of course, enjoy your vacation!
For more information on protecting your home, visit www.ncpc.org, the web site of the National Crime Prevention Council, and www.ppdonline.org, the web site of the Philadelphia Police Department
This article is part of an ongoing series of health and safety articles aiming to raise awareness among Temple University employees, faculty and students about a range of health and safety issues.
This is an initiative developed by Temple’s Health and Safety Committee, comprising members from across the University community. If you have other health and safety questions, suggestions or concerns, please e-mail the Health and Safety Committee at healthandsafety@temple.edu.
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