Many families travel for the holidays and leave their homes unattended or unprotected from burglars and other mishaps. Unfortunately, they also leave behind many valuables, including new and still unopened gifts. If there's anything everyone can learn from the Christmas movie "Home Alone," burglars can be very persistent and steal items despite the spirit of the season.
If your family is hitting the road these holidays, then here are some things to do before you leave town:
1. Set up a good home security system.
A home security system is an investment, and if you haven't installed one yet, don't wait until the last minute to get this done. Having a security system will enable authorities to check your house, which will give you peace of mind if you're miles away from home. If someone has indeed broken in, the police can be dispatched to catch the burglar.
Some security systems will allow you to monitor remotely from your mobile phones, and there are many simple DIY units to choose from. Christian Cerda of SimpliSafe told the AARP to check carefully before purchasing a unit because the installation could have hitches.
Once you have the security system installed, turn it on at all times, especially if you're away. According to reports, some homes are victimized by burglary because they don't turn the system on during the daytime, thinking burglars only attack at night. However, the FBI said many residential thefts actually occur in the daytime.
2. Your lights, especially outside, should have timers.
Lights are great deterrents against burglars, but it would be costly to turn them on the whole time you're away for the holidays. However, there are plenty of smart bulbs in the market today that can be installed and controlled via the smartphone, which means that you can access these remotely at a convenient timing if you have internet.
With smart bulbs, you can schedule when the lights turn on or off or create scenes to automatically trigger the lights and make the burglars believe that someone is at home. You could also adjust the brightness or dimness of the lights to your preference.
3. Consider leaving the radio on.
One burglar anonymously interviewed by KTVB7 said that they would not dare break into a house if they hear the sound of the radio or television. Consider leaving one radio on to an all-talk station so it might sound like there are people home.
4. Be sure to lock the doors and windows securely.
The same group of burglars interviewed said that unlocked doors or windows allow them to get inside somebody else's house easily. So, before you leave, go over every door and window, including the small windows in the bathroom, and see if it's a vulnerable spot.
"People forget to protect side doors, back doors, garage doors, and doors that lead into the house from the garage," said Liz Martinez, a former investigator. "Make sure these secondary entrance doors are metal and have appropriate locks."
If you have time and the budget, put bars on the windows so it will be harder for a person to fit inside.
