Going on vacation? Here's
How to Protect Yourself
and Your Home

Each year thousands of vacationers experience the humiliating, degrading, and sometimes frightful effects of crime.  You might think I’m talking about personal assault, but statistics indicate there’s a more common crime: personal theft while on vacation. 

      Although summer and holidays are the most popular time for vacations, anytime you travel for business or pleasure, you can become a target for burglars and thieves.  Many of them are watching and waiting for just the right opportunity to strike. 

      Here are a few tips to dramatically reduce your chances of becoming a victim:

      Protecting Your Home:

• When leaving your home, double check all doors and window locks, and purchase slide-lock protection for sliding doors – a frequent point of entry for burglars.  The locks cost less than a dollar and simply screw onto your window frame.  Garage windows and doors, also a frequent point of entry, should be secured.
• Ask a friend to stop by your home at different times while you are away, or to be a house sitter.  Ask them to turn on lights at night, or consider buying a light timer set for every evening.  Setting up multiple timers in alternating rooms works best.  Radio timers are also a good idea.
• Temporarily cancel newspaper subscriptions and postpone mail delivery, unless you’ve made arrangements for someone to pick up these items on a daily basis.
• Engrave your name or an identifiable number (your own “secret code”) on large valuables.  It makes them less attractive to burglars, and makes them easier to identify and recover if they are stolen.
• Consider installing an alarm system, which can serve not only as protection, but may qualify you for a discount on your homeowner’s insurance.
• If you have more than one car, park your second vehicle in your driveway while you’re away.  If you will be away for more than a week, ask a friend to change the position of the car a few times during your absence.
• Move expensive electronic equipment away from the windows where they might be visible.
• Don’t give your home a “closed-down” look by completely shutting drapes and blinds.
• Make sure your homeowner’s policy is paid and the policy suits your current needs.
• Arrange for lawn and landscaping services if your trip will be longer than a week.
• Never leave spare keys “hidden” under doormats or anywhere outside your home.
• If you’re departing from a local airport, don’t write your personal address on your luggage tags.  Use a business address instead.

While On Vacation:

1. Use a hotel safe to store valuable items instead of leaving them in your hotel room.
2. Keep the entry and balcony doors locked and use deadbolts and chains wherever possible.
3. Don’t open the door to anyone.  Even if a hotel repairman shows up, call the front desk to verify that a repairman has been sent.
4. Don’t leave keys lying around when you’re at the beach or pool.
5. If you rent a car, be sure the rental agency is not advertised anywhere on the car.  Tourists and travelers are frequently targeted by these means.
6. Always lock your car, even if you will be gone for just a few minutes.
7. At night, park in a lighted, visible place.  If someone seems to be following you to your car, walk past it and find help.

All it takes is a little common sense and forethought, and you can measurably reduce your chances of becoming a victim of crime.