KeySince the kids will be out of school soon and many people will be planning vacations, it is time to start thinking about the best ways to protect your home from a possible burglary while you are away. The most obvious things most people do are stop the mail, stop the newspaper delivery, lock the house up tight and leave a light on. The following ideas go a step beyond these old stand-bys:
  • If you happen to be going away on an extended trip, you may be better off asking a neighbor to pick up your mail and newspaper and bring it into your home each day.
  • Invest in  a couple of timers. You can set them to turn a light on and then off at the same time each day. You can also use a timer on a radio or stereo.
  • Hire a house sitter in the form of your neighbor’s responsible teen, or work out a system with your neighbor where you can cover their house when they go away and they look after yours when you are away.
  • If your neighborhood does not already have a “neighborhood watch” program, be the one to start it. That way you will always have someone to tell your travel plans to.
  • Consider purchasing a home security system. Your home will be regularly monitored and many companies offer a neighborhood patrol.
For more information about home security tips go to HowStuffWorks for additional ideas