- Get a trusted friend or relative to house-sit. At the very least, make sure your neighbors know your plans.
- Have a neighbor pick up your newspapers and mail every day.
- Lock all doors and windows and secure the garage door.
- Leave a car in the driveway, or ask a neighbor to park there.
- Leave a house key and a number where you can be reached with a trusted friend or neighbor.
- Use timers to turn lights on and off at certain times, altering light patterns, to make your home look occupied.
- Leave drapes and shades open as normal. (Closed blinds during the day are a sure sign of an empty house, plus they allow a burglar to work unseen by neighbors.)
- Arrange to have your lawn mowed.
- Be sure your trees and hedges have been trimmed. This gives burglars fewer places to hide.
- Replace any burned-out lights in your yard. Consider upgrading outdoor light fixtures with devices that have built-in motion detectors, which turn on whenever anyone walks past.
Keep your home and valuables safe while you travel.
