The holidays are a busy time for break-ins. Home burglaries reach year-round highs between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day when people are more likely to be out for a day or for weeks at a time. If you’re leaving home for the holidays, you want to take a few steps to keep your home safe from a break-in.
1) Invest in a Security System
Don’t have a security system? You can set up your own video monitoring system for a fairly reasonable amount of money. There are even wireless systems you can set up that will keep you updated on the temperature in your home (in case your furnace breaks) and motion alerts. Watch live clips on your smartphone and rest assured that your home is safe and sound.
2) Keep the Heat On
How cold does it get where you live? If you’re headed to a tropical destination this winter, it’s probably because you’re dreaming of a Christmas with more white sand than white snow. Wherever you’re traveling, it’s important to keep your furnace running at a reasonable temperature. You may think this is a waste of heat and energy, but keeping your furnace running keeps your pipes from freezing. A frozen pipe can easily burst and cause significant damage to your home. Spare yourself the plumbing costs and keep your thermostat up even on holiday.
If you have someone house-sitting, make sure they know who to call when your furnace breaks while you’re away. Leave the number for your HVAC repair plan company if you subscribe to a protection plan, or an emergency furnace technician you’ve worked with in the past and trust.
Don’t forget to alert your alarm company (if you use one) that you’re going to be away and there will be a house-sitter. Should your house-sitter trigger a false alarm, they could wind up in a difficult situation unless the company knows they are the current key holder.
3) Cancel Deliveries
Cancel your regular deliveries if you’re worried about a break-in during the holidays. Newspapers piling up at your front door are a big tip-off to potential burglars that your home is empty and ripe for the picking. Get a neighbor to pick up your mail and any packages that might arrive while you’re away or divert incoming mail to a PO Box.
4) Keep Your Travel Plans Off Social Media
This can be a tough one, especially if you’re the type of person who feels like they have to share everything online (or you have teens, which amounts to the same thing). It doesn’t mean you can’t take all the beach selfies you want but wait until you’re home to share them on Instagram. You never know who might be following you with ulterior motives, or how easy it can be to find out information like your address.
5) Tell a Neighbor You Trust
Finally, let a neighbor you trust know you’ll be out of town. They’ll keep an eye out for suspicious activity when they can, not to mention pick up your mail.
Traveling for the holidays should be fun. Stop worrying about whether your house has been broken into.