Nearly half of Americans plan to travel this holiday season—a time when burglary rates rise as much as 20%. Keep potential intruders away with these 10 home security strategies. That way you can relax and enjoy your time away without worry.
1. Secure your doors and windows. Sturdy doors and quality locks are crucial in protecting your home. Consider smart locks to control and monitor access remotely and use security film to reinforce glass, making it harder to shatter.
2. Install a home security system. Modern systems provide comprehensive coverage of your property and include features like motion detectors, door and window sensors, and glass break detectors. Systems with remote capabilities also allow live camera feeds directly to your smartphone.
3. Use visible cameras and video doorbells. Surveillance equipment that’s in plain sight serves as a good deterrent against criminal activity. Be sure to position them at all critical entry points.
4. Set up timed indoor and outdoor lighting. Program lights to switch on and off at staggered intervals to create the illusion of occupancy when you’re not home.
5. Lock up valuable items. Safes and lockboxes provide an extra layer of protection for items such as jewelry and important documents. Choose ones that can be bolted down, making them difficult to steal.
6. Build relationships with neighbors. Neighbors who actively watch out for one another can recognize unusual behavior, potentially preventing crime.
7. Avoid sharing travel plans online. Posting travel plans online announces that your home will be unoccupied. Wait until you return home to give updates about your trip.
8. Have someone check on your home. Arrange for a trusted neighbor or family member to perform regular visits to your home while you’re away, reducing the chances it will be targeted by intruders.
9. Secure your garage and outbuildings. Ensure all doors and windows in these structures are locked and reinforce hinges and latches to withstand tampering. As an added layer of protection, install motion sensor lights and cameras around these areas.
10. Prepare your home for longer absences. During extended time away, take extra precautions like unplugging electronics, turning off the water supply, and stopping mail and delivery services.
In the event that you’re the victim of a burglary or suffer damage to your home, it’s important you have adequate home insurance coverage. Contact Westwood before your next trip to review your policy and ensure you have the protection you need.
Please Note: This article is for general informational and educational purposes only. It does not represent any specific insurance policy and does not modify any provisions, limitations, or exclusions of any current policy.
