AAA East Central - Vacation in Peace: Deter Home Break-Ins with These Steps

With the summer driving season in full swing, homeowners may be asking themselves how to deter home break-ins before leaving on vacation.  Home burglaries typically occur during summer while families are away or enjoying more time outdoors, according to insurance industry statistics.  Homes are burglarized about every 15 seconds and a homeowner loses about $2,316 in possessions and damages, according to the U.S. Dept. of Justice. 

Nearly 8 million property crimes take place annually, with losses of $14.3 billion, according to nationwide FBI crime statistics which also noted that top items consistently taken were cash, jewelry, electronics (laptops and other portable devices), firearms, and medications.

Making your home look occupied and locking it to make break-ins difficult can go a long way to deter a home burglary,�?? according to Brett Schurter, Vice President of Insurance at AAA East Central.  “Summer vacation plans can turn disastrous back home for travelers who fail to plan for the worst.�??

Online Tips to Help Prevent Home Burglaries:

Never announce your vacation plans on Facebook, Twitter, or personal blogs: social media settings can display your location online, giving burglars a 'heads-up that you're away from home.  Additionally, only share details and photos of your trip after you have returned home.

Avoid saying that you are on vacation on your voice mail and automatic e-mail response. Cyber criminals issue mass mailings in hopes of receiving these messages, and cross check them with online directories to find where you live.

Disconnect your computers and electronic devices from the Internet to prevent hackers.

Offline Tips to Prevent Home Burglaries:

Lock all doors and windows before you leave. Use deadbolts, steel dowel rods, and locking pins in sliding glass doors and windows to keep them from being pried open. Slowing down a would-be burglar will likely make them seek another home that's easier to break into.

If possible, install a monitored alarm system in your home. Make sure your home insurance is up to date and provides adequate coverage if you own luxury goods, jewelry and electronics.

Use automatic timers with inside lamps and a radio.Set them to come on at random times. Remember, keeping your lights on during the daytime is a dead giveaway that you are not at home.

Look through your windows and see what valuables are visible. If you can see any special possessions, move them out of clear sight.

Keep the exterior of your home and yard well lit with low-wattage outdoor lighting. Consider installing flood lights and motion detectors.

Have your lawn mowed while you're on vacation to keep up the appearance of being home. Also, trim your front entrance bushes, including near windows. This eliminates a burglar hiding while breaking in.

Close and lock the garage door. Side garage doors should be solid, without any glass and equipped with a strong deadbolt.Remove the garage door opener from any car parked outside. Also, remove spare keys from outside your home.

Stop deliveries, mail and newspapers, or ask a trustworthy neighbor or friend to pick them up. Don't let mail, including bank statements and credit card offers, sit in the mailbox to advertise you're away and tempt a thief to steal your identity.

Remove spare keys from outside your home, especially near the front door or under a welcome mat.

Keep some blinds up and curtains open to keep up normal appearances. Put away personal documents, and place critical documents in a safety deposit box or leave them with a relative. Hide expensive jewelry or place in a bank safety deposit box.

Keep a detailed inventory of your valuable possessions, including a description of the items, date of purchase and original value, and serial numbers and keep a copy in a safe place away from home.

If you're not on vacation, report suspicious activity in your neighborhood to help protect yourself and your neighbors.