Regardless of how thoroughly you make sure all your doors and windows are locked whenever you leave the house, burglars won’t care if there are other visible signs that no one is on the property.
Watch for these 6 signs thieves look for:
- Visible Valuables in Accessible Places
Leaving valuables in a visible and easily accessible place is a bad idea. This seems reasonable, but we tend to forget how valuable some items are when we see them in our everyday homes. Some examples are shutters that open to reveal computers and other electronics, jewelry, or even a fleet of outdoor recreation vehicles parked in the backyard. Taking precautions to reduce the visibility of these items by storing them, covering them, or simply closing the windows of certain rooms can be a wise decision.
- Overflowing Mailboxes and Packages at Doorstep
Nothing screams “empty” more than a mailbox with spilled letters or a bunch of holiday packages lined up in front of the door. Some ways to get rid of this are asking a neighbor to pick up your mail for you, asking the post office to store your mail, or sending it to a temporary PO Box.
- No Home Security
Today’s home security industry boasts a wide range of products that homeowners can choose from to build a reliable and functional system for their home. Options range from surveillance cameras, to phone-enabled automation systems, to sets of alarms and monitors, making your choices endless.
- Easily Hidden Spare Key
A large planter with an envelope behind it, a conspicuous lump under a “Welcome” mat, a small box at the base of a tree; each one is a terrible “hide” for a spare key. Be careful about where you hide your backups and change locations frequently.
- Dark Property
When no lights are turned on in your house for two days, or if a certain light is on at the same time every night, burglars will know that no one is home. Leave different lights on in different parts of the house or have a neighbor do it for you.
- Telling social media you’re leaving
Make a public announcement about your weeklong vacation to the Bahamas visible to someone looking to get away with theft. Be careful who you choose to share your travel plans with and keep the information private.
Avoiding these mistakes can help you go the extra mile to protect your home while you’re away. If you want to read more about the real thieves’ habits, check out the following blog post by home security system provider Q-Seewhich dives deeper into the psychology of thieves.
