If you and your family are planning to go on vacation, it’s best to be discreet bout it… unless you want burglars to know your not going to be home!
We live in a culture of constant sharing — from Facebook to Twitter to Instagram, a lot of us have gotten into a rhythm of constantly updating family and friends (and some strangers) about our day-to-day comings and goings. We share our birthday fun and new puppies and baby’s first steps, and the ability to be connected even while far away from people we love is a great feeling. But in our sharing-focused lives, we need to think about caution sometimes, too. Particularly when we leave town.
As security professionals, part of our job at Unlimited Security is to help advise our residential security clients on ways to bolster our efforts to keep their home safe and sound. And one important part that we always try to stress: leaning on the side of mystery when it comes to traveling, vacationing or anything else that takes you away from home for a stretch. It’s one thing for close family members and travel agents to know your itinerary, it’s another for the whole digital world to have access to your plans.
You Can Share Your Excitement, Just Put It On Pause
A good rule of thumb about all those vacation photos and share-worthy experiences: Capture them all, and save them until you get home.
Even when you don’t tweet your vacation itinerary directly, all those beachside photos are a pretty great indication that your home is left unattended. So commit yourself to holding on to those moments until you’re back — and talk to the rest of your family, including kids, about doing the same.
Other Ways To Keep Your Travels Under The Radar
Staying mum about your travels is just the start. A few other ways to hide the fact that you’re not at home:
Use Timers For Lights, Radio And TV
Nothing makes a home look normal and occupied like the regular lighting up of electronics and lights. Use timers to keep your lights or even your TV and radio coming on and off like they normally would. Another option Unlimited Security Can help with: Our systems can include home control devices or smartphone apps that let you control your systems at home even when you’re not there.
Hold The Mail
Your overflowing mailbox will make it obvious that no one’s around to check it. If you don’t have someone who can pick up your mail regularly while you’re gone, ask the post office to hold your mail until you return.
Ask A Neighbor For Help
An empty driveway can be a dead giveaway that no one is home. If you have a neighbor that can park a car in your driveway, that’s another great way to hide your absence.
Invest In Video Surveillance For Extra Peace Of Mind
Unlimited Security can also offer home video surveillance that will let you record and view what’s happening at key risk areas in or around your home — which can be useful when you’re away or when you’re at home. While you’re on vacation, check in on your home’s entry points. When you’re in town, keep an eye on that pool. The video can be accessed from a computer, tablet or smartphone, so it’s easy to keep tabs even if you’re on the go.
If you have any questions or concerns about keeping your home safe while you’re traveling, Unlimited Security is always glad to help. Just give us a call!