HOME SECURITY WHILE ON VACATION
Summertime means vacation time — and, like most people, I can’t wait to leave everything behind for some carefree rest and relaxation. Unfortunately, summertime is also peak season for house thefts and there’s nothing relaxing about returning home to find that everything you’ve left behind is gone! Fortunately, a few simple do-it-yourself measures can help you keep your house safe while you’re off enjoying your vacation.
From the Outside In:
The most effective home security program is one that deters burglars as soon as they look at your home. Even something as simple as posting decals or notices that you have an alarm system may be enough to deter a break-in.
Sliding glass patio doors can be easily lifted out of their sliding tracks, but simple pin inserts can prevent vulnerability. To prevent the door from being lifted out of the track, drill a pilot hole in the top track above, and slightly in, from each corner of the sliding door frame section and install a screw into each hole. Adjust the screws so that the head of the screw just barely clears the top of the door when it is moved back and forth. Use a broomstick, metal rod, or wooden dowel in the bottom track to secure the door from opening.
Window bars make it almost impossible to enter your home. But remember, the same safety feature that keeps intruders out can trap you inside: keep the key near the bars.
Install outdoor lighting that operates on timers, light-sensitive photocell mechanisms, or motion detectors.
Give the impression of activity at your home: Hire someone to keep up with the yard work; ask a friend or neighbor to remove any advertising flyers that are stuffed in your mailbox, or partly under your door, or dropped on your lawn. Stop mail and newspaper delivery until you return. Keep some shades and blinds up and curtains open. Don’t hide keys in mailboxes, under doormats, or any other place that burglars will know to look. Ask one of your neighbors or friends to use your driveway to park their car overnight, or anytime they are at home.
From the Inside Out
The simplest way to make a house look occupied is to have the lights, TV, or radio turn on at differing intervals. Plug-in timers are excellent for activating interior electronics. All you have to do is plug the timer into an outlet and then plug your light or TV into the same outlet.
“Burglar deterrent” CDs offer recorded household sounds selected and recorded to will fill in your apartment with various noises–from kitchen, to living room, even bathroom!–that give the impression that someone is in the apartment
Be sure your fire and smoke detectors’ batteries are fully charged, and put all of your important documents in a steel lock box in a safe location.
Go Wireless.
Advancements in wireless technology have made reliable systems affordable, and you can install a system in an afternoon. Sketch out a rough floor plan of your home and mark those areas where you would like protection. Designate the placement of the main control box near a power source and close to your main entry door, so you can arm and disarm the unit easily. If you prefer an out-of-sight display, choose a system that can be activated and deactivated with a wireless key fob (like the kind that locks and unlocks your car.) If you are using a system that automatically informs police and fire, locate the main controls near a phone line.
Affix the wireless sensors to external doors and windows. These are usually magnetic devices that are triggered when the circuit is broken. Other sensors may be placed throughout your home to detect movement. These motion detection sensors are simply screwed to the wall. Smoke and carbon monoxide detectors can also be added to your system.
Go Hi-Tech
If you really want to know what’s happening when you’re not home (no parties in the pool, kids!) various Web systems allow you to watch and control the camera from any Internet–connected computer through a simple Web browser; others let you give commands and view images via cell phone. Some will even e–mail you video clips at specific times you set, or when the camera detects motion. New programs for the iPhone allow you to control your entertainment system, lighting, HVAC system, security systems, and even your power consumption.
Go Low-Tech
For total peace of mind while you’re floating in the waves at the beach, you don’t always have to do-it-yourself: keep your home and possessions safe by hiring a trusted house sitter!
