Tips Vacation Safety Checklist

When you’re on vacation—or even just gone for the weekend—your home is far more likely to be burgled, simply because your absence is usually obvious to the bad guys. So before you hit the road next time…

Make plans for the porch—Even if you do put a stop to the mail and newspapers, that still means door hangers, fliers and UPS/FedEx packages may pile up on the porch while you’re gone. So ask a trusted neighbor to stop by every day and collect whatever may be there.

Hire out the yard work—If you’ll be gone for an extended period, hire someone to mow the lawn and water the plants or shovel the snow during winter.

Install multiple timers—Install automatic on/off timers on multiple lights, as well as a radio or TV. Newer digital timers even let you vary the schedule.

Put a car in the driveway—If you’re leaving a car behind, park it in the driveway instead of the garage. Or, consider asking a neighbor to park there while you’re away.

Silence the phone—Turn off the ringer for your phone, or have all your calls forwarded.

Take care of the trash—Ask a neighbor to take your trash cans out for collection and put them back afterward.

Alert the neighbors—Even if you don’t need the help of friendly neighbors, be sure to let them know what days you’ll be gone and if anyone will be stopping by.

These are all simple little items, but they do make a difference.  After watching a friend put their lives back together after being robbed it is worth the effort.