11 Ways to Invite Thieves To Your Home

By theadmin

As you pack for your vacation, make sure you’re not leaving home safety off your to-do list. When you return, you don’t want to find any surprises awaiting you. Unfortunately, an empty house is like a sitting duck to burglars, who are especially active during summer and holidays. Don’t overlook these 11 easy ways you can accidentally invite thieves to your home while you’re away.

Tell the Wrong People

1. Announce your vacation on social media. Would-be criminals have tracked people’s trips on social media to find easy burglary targets. It’s safest to share photos and updates after you arrive home.

2. Don’t tell anyone you’re leaving. Consider hiring a house or pet sitter while you are gone, or at least share your travel plans with a trusted neighbor. They can help by picking up packages and flyers left outside your home and key an eye out for suspicious activity.

Make It Easy to Get In

3. Don’t lock your door. Yep. In a shocking 34 percent of thefts in Texas in 2015, the criminals got in through an unlocked entrance.

4. Don’t reinforce your door. The Insurance Information Institute recommends deadbolt locks plus metal or solid-wood entry doors that are at least 1.75 inches thick to slow down would-be burglars.

5. Leave a key out. Or under the mat. Or in the mailbox, or wherever you leave it. Did you know that 50 percent of burglaries involve the use of a key? Bring it inside while you’re traveling.

6. Leave your garage door open or on. That way, anyone can gain access. Lock the door and turn it off, and if possible, store your car inside.

Make It Obvious You’re Not Home

6. Leave the lights off. This allows thieves to work in the dark. Install motion-detector lights to alert neighbors of activity, and keep indoor lights on a timer to give the illusion that you’re home.

7. Leave mail and newspapers accumulating. This is a clear sign to passersby that no one’s home. Stop your delivery services before you leave and hold your mail.

9. Let your lawn grow. Don’t tip off thieves by letting your home look neglected. Hire someone to take care of your landscaping needs if you’ll be gone for a while.

Be an Easy Target

10. Keep valuables in the car. Comb your car for alluring objects. Your cellphone is pretty valuable to a petty thief. And that GPS? Thieves will thank you for leading them right to your front door.

11. Don’t invest in a burglar alarm. If you don’t have a home security system, you can’t alert the police to a break-in when you’re miles away. Ask your Texas Farm Bureau Insurance Agent if your alarm system qualifies you for a discount on your property insurance.

Finally, it’s a good idea to check in with your Texas Farm Bureau Insurance Agent to make sure you have the necessary coverage in place to take care of any problems that may occur in your absence. Learn more here about upgrading your remote home security.