Vacation season often sees a spike in home burglaries. How do you keep your property safe (and your peace of mind) while you’re away from home?
Installing motion-sensor lighting, window and door alarms plus timers for indoor and outdoor lighting are easy projects that most anyone can do, say the experts at the Home Depot.
Here are some tips to keeping your home protected during vacation or any time:
HOME CHECKLIST
Deadbolts are a must. The most important line of defense for protecting your property is making sure you install deadbolts on every entry door to your home, say the experts. Get strong ones – Grades 1 or 2 offer the best protection.
Considered the most durable, Grade 1 deadbolts extend at least 1 inch into the door frame. They’re made to withstand at least 150 pounds of pressure and the equivalent of 10 hammer blows. More common for residential uses, Grade 2 deadbolts project up to five-eighths of an inch into the door frame and withstand impacts of up to 120 pounds of pressure.
Link your outdoor lights to motion sensors. The sensors will startle intruders by instantly exposing them to light.
Get them on camera. Consider installing an affordable video system that allows you to view the outside of your home. (It also will help to identify potential intruders.)
Alarm systems have become more advanced and easier to install with Wi-Fi options. Consider alarms for windows and exterior doors.
Make it look like you’re at home. If you’re going away on vacation, put timers on your interior lights. Specifically, look for timers that stagger when your lights go on and off from day to day. That prevents a predictable pattern from being established.
Also, remember to put a hold on mail and newspaper delivery if you’re away. You don’t want mail and newspapers piling up at your door.
JOIN THE DISCUSSION | Register here
We welcome comments. Please keep them civil, short and to the point. ALL CAPS, spam, obscene, profane, abusive and off topic comments will be deleted. Repeat offenders will be blocked. Thanks for taking part — and abiding by these simple rules. A thorough explanation of rules of conduct can be found in our Terms of Service. If you have any questions, including why your comment may not be showing immediately after you submit it, be sure to visit the commenting FAQ.