Don't Advertise Your Stuff
Home burglars usually walk or drive through neighborhoods first to find those homes worth breaking into, notes Lifehacker. Don't make your home a tempting target. Don't leave trash or boxes on the curb before you leave. A cardboard box for an HDTV on the curb for trash pick up says "there is something worth stealing inside this house."
Don't Advertise That You're Away
If you are leaving on vacation, make the house look lived in. Burglars watching the neighborhood will be interested in a house with newspapers scattered in the front yard. Stop the paper delivery or ask a neighbor to pick them up for you. Have them look for flyers left on the door or porch and remove them.
Stop your mail, have the neighbor pick it up, or at the very least, use a locking mailbox to prevent someone from taking a quick peek. The most secure mail delivery is through a mail slot in your front door, if that's allowed in your neighborhood, says Arizona Central.
Close blinds and curtains but use lights on timers to make the house look occupied, suggests MSN Real Estate. A radio or TV on a timer creates the illusion that someone is home. Anything that can make your home look occupied will deter a burglar and make them move on to another house.
Protection From Future Loss
Some burglars may not be as interested in jewelry and TVs as they are in your personal financial information. Credit card and bank statements left on a desk or kitchen counter can be used in identify fraud. Days after you return home, you may find that someone has cleared out your bank account or filled up your credit card with charges.
This is especially important regarding the safety of your children's identities. This group has seen an increase of identity theft incidents. Companies such as LifeLock (lifelock.com) have created seminars and classroom guides to help you understand this risk to your children and how to prevent it in the future.
High-Tech Home Protection
While the "no-tech" solutions to home security—like door and window locks, and barking dogs—are still effective, many real estate web sites are saying that more consumers are becoming interested in the smart home concept. This high-tech approach to home security allows you to control and monitor areas of your home remotely.
Lock and unlock doors and windows remotely. Check on the status of your security system with mobile apps or with your laptop. Motion detectors and security cameras can send you text messages or emails, should someone trigger them. Watch your home remotely on security cameras. Keep tabs on pets. Watch the swimming pool and hot tub.
Upgrade your home to include the latest in fingerprint lock technology. Compact fingerprint recognition units are available from electronics sites like NewEgg to protect your home computer equipment and other electronics. This technology is also being built into door locks for your home.
Written by Realty Times Staff
Nancy M. Alexander Stone Harbor and Avalon NJ Real Estate, Long & Foster Avalon
