Many of us will be spending time visiting friends and family over the holidays. Allstate Insurance says that this is the prime time for break-ins and theft to occur. Thieves realize that you aren’t at home! Fortunately, the insurer has some tips that you can use to prevent theft over the holidays.
Over the river, and through the woods, to Grandmother’s house you go! Many families spend a big portion of the holidays visiting with various relatives. You might be taking your children to visit with their grandparents. Or, you might be attending a family gathering that includes aunts, uncles, cousins, their spouses, and all of their kids.
These get togethers can be fun, What isn’t fun is returning home to find that your house has been broken into and that someone stole your expensive possessions. Allstate Insurance says that the holidays are the prime time for break-ins and theft. Allstate has some tips to help prevent theft (and the need to file a homeowners insurance claim). Read them over before you leave for a holiday celebration.
Leave A Light On
Thieves are looking for homes that have been left empty while the family is out visiting or vacationing. It is a good idea to leave a few lights on. Lights can indicate that someone is home. You might want to set your Christmas lights on an automatic timer. Thieves are looking for signs that no one is home because they have a better chance of getting away with a break-in if the family isn’t there.
Take Care of the Mail
Few things signal that no one has been inside your house for a while more than a pile of newspapers and magazines on the doormat and an overflowing mailbox. Have a trusted neighbor stop by every day to collect the your mail, newspapers, and whatever else arrived. Or, you could stop by the post office and arrange to have your mail temporarily stopped while you are on vacation.
Don’t Forget to Lock the Doors
Obviously, you will want to make sure that the front door of your home is locked before you leave. Don’t forget to lock the back door as well. Check to make sure that the sliding door on your balcony or patio is locked and secured. Go around the house and close all of your windows and lock them. These steps will make it harder for someone to be able to break into your home.
Image by Kelly Sue DeConnick on Flickr