Did you know more burglaries occur during the summer months than any other time of year? Enjoy those summery breezes through open blinds and open windows, but don’t forget to lock up when you leave. The last thing you want is to return home from a relaxing vacation to find you’ve been robbed.

Gain extra security with these easy tips:

Eliminate tempting points of entry.

Keep the garage door closed, especially at night. Don’t leave back doors open, windows open, or try to hide your key in a fake rock. That is the oldest trick in the book. If you do plant a spare key somewhere on your property, don’t write your house or apartment number on it.

 

Turn on the outdoor lights and trim back your shrubbery.

Nothing is more enticing to a burglar than a dark home that has natural coverage behind which they can hide while breaking in. On vacation? Enjoying a weekend getaway? No worries. Set your lights on a timer to give the illusion you are home even when you’re not.

Do you have a dog?

Dogs of any size are a major deterrent. Put up a sign. Let your dog bark at delivery people to send a message. Just be sure you have protection against doggie doors.

Lock and alarm the sliding glass doors.

Did you know you can leverage energy management and automation technology by integrating this with a home security system? Some have remote options to monitor doors. You can be notified when locked doors are accessed.

Never answer the door to a stranger.

Many burglars pose as salespeople or will act as a decoy while their colleague cleans out your home. If you’re not expecting the visitor, don’t feel obligated to answer the door.

Rely on your neighbors.

Does your neighborhood have a Neighborhood Watch program in place? The more people in your proximity that are looking out for you and vice versa, the better. Offer to park your car in their driveway when they are on vacation. When you start to pay attention, you may notice that strange car parked down the street again. Report anything that seems out of place to get a policeman to patrol the area.

Consider an alarm system.

Did you know you are three times more likely to be burglarized as the person who has an alarm system? Not only will the yard and home signage deter a burglar, you gain peace of mind. Why not embrace an interactive, wireless home monitoring system? No matter where you go, you’ll be able to monitor the activity at your home from an app on your cell phone.