As family and friends reunite this holiday season many leave their houses empty, which is tempting to burglars.
The Washtenaw County Sheriff’s Office and the Michigan Sheriffs’ Association offers you the following tips to help make your absence less noticeable and your house less attractive to burglars.
- Remember to lock all doors and windows – even the doors that open into your garage. Those garage doors are easier to open than you think.
- Make sure your locks are sturdy – all entry doors should have deadbolts. If your entry doors have windows in them make sure your deadbolt is keyed on both sides and DON’T leave the key in the inside lock.
- Make sure you put your newspaper and mail delivery on hold before you leave. Burglars really do look for piled up newspapers and mail as a sign your home is empty. Leaving mail unattended for days also opens you up to potential identity theft.
- Make arrangements for a neighbor to create car and foot tracks to your house if it snows while you’re gone. You should arrange for someone to shovel your sidewalks and driveway while you’re away too.
- A loud TV or radio can be a better deterrent than the best alarm system. If you’re reluctant to leave your TV on while you’re out of town you can buy a device which works on a timer and simulates the flickering glow of a real television.
- Make sure someone you trust in your neighborhood knows you’re out of town so they can watch for anything suspicious. Nosy neighbors are a great deterrent because burglars will break a window to get in knowing that most people will stop if they hear a sound but if the sound doesn’t repeat they will shrug it off. Your neighbor is more likely to call the police if they know you’re out of town and it can’t be you making that noise.
- Avoid announcing your vacation on Facebook or any other social networking site. It’s easier than you think to find your address.
