Home Security Vacation Check List

Burglars are always looking for vulnerabilities and weak spots in the security of a house when they are planning a robbery. Empty homes are great targets to these robbers. If you are going on vacation and your house is going to be empty for an extended period of time, it is a good idea to draw up a vacation check list and take some good precautionary measures in the context of home security to reduce risk of a burglary.

The first step is to make a list of everything you need to discontinue such as the newspaper delivery, mail and other things you receive on a regular basis. If you are expecting an important mail then ask a neighbor to keep checking your mailbox regularly and pick up the mail. Arrange for some indoor as well as outdoor lighting to be switched on at specified times.

You can give extra keys to a neighbor you trust so that he or she might be able to drop your mail inside your house and then lock up. In addition to this, your neighbor can also check if lights are on and there is nothing unusual inside. If you have to leave your refrigerator on, also have a neighbor check whether it’s working properly or not.

For lighting arrangement, you can either leave some power-saving bulbs on, or buy some modern lights that can be controlled with a remote control or commands given through a PC from a remote location. Wireless technology has made it possible to manufacture security systems that allow you to switch lights on and off by giving commands from a cell phone. Older security systems are still available though which make use of a timer to switch lights at specified times to give an impression of life in the house.

Before leaving for a vacation, try to find some good, inexpensive security system to protect your house. There is a range of different devices to choose from. Some of them are battery-operated, while others require electricity. Some make use of modern technology, while others rely on older security mechanisms. All these devices and systems are easy to install and provide sufficient security in case of a break-in.

The company that provides you with a security system is responsible for its monitoring. They look for signals, security alerts and other alarms to get into action. Before leaving the house, don’t forget to tell these people that you are going to be away for a while and that in your absence they should keep monitoring the devices and report any unusual activity to your cell phone.

Leaving someone behind is always the best option when you have to go on a vacation with your family. A friend, relative, colleague or neighbor may be able to live in your house while you are away. In addition to the above-mentioned security measures, a neighborhood watch program is also a good option.