According to the FBI, a burglary happens in the United States every 15 seconds. That’s an astonishing statistic, and one that could have an affect on any of us. Today, we’ll discuss some ways to keep your house safe & secure should you plan to be away during the upcoming holiday months.

Know Your Neighbors

Getting to know your neighbors, and letting the trusted ones know that you will be away a great start. You can ask your neighbors to check in on your home or even check the mail for you while you’re away. Not only is someone looking in on your property, but you also won’t have to worry about your mail piling up (which is an indication to burglars that no one is home).

To Post or Not to Post

While social media has become a staple of our lives, you might want to resist posting about your upcoming trip, or the dates and duration that you will be gone. Sure, social media is a great place to inform your friends and family of what you and the kids are up to, but Aunt Ethel and Uncle Bruce from halfway across the country aren’t the only ones watching.

If you announce that you are going away on vacation, you are basically informing people that your home is unattended and, therefore, an easy target for a break-in.

Grab That Garage Door Opener

A commonly overlooked task is to take the garage door opener out of your car. Especially if your car is parked in a driveway, you’ll want to take this in the house before you leave. Your car is way easier to break into, leaving someone a simple click away from accessing your home through the garage.

Use Timers & Lights

Making your house looked lived in while you are away a great away to deter a burglar. Just as Kevin scared off the Wet Bandits in the popular ‘Home Alone’ movie, using lights on a timer will make your home seem as though someone is there in the evenings. If you don’t have timers, you could always ask a neighbor to stop by and turn your outside light on for you.

Remove Temptations

If you have items outside of your home like a new grill or motorcycle, you might want to pull them into the house to remove the temptation they may pose to a potential burglar.