While you are busy packing and planning for your vacation this winter, don’t forget that the holiday season often comes with an increased chance for home burglary. Whether you are hitting the slopes or escaping to a warmer climate, take some time to make sure your home is secure before you leave.
If you have not already, consider security cameras that can be monitored from your smartphone. This way, as long as you have a connection, you can keep an eye on your property.
Additionally, a monitored alarm system can detect intruders. They are monitored remotely by a company who can act if the alarm is triggered. Because time is often of the essence when it comes to preventing burglary, a monitored alarm system may be a wise investment.
One way to deter potential burglars is to keep your home occupied. Arranging for someone to stay in your home and keep an eye on things may be beneficial in more than one way. They may be able to monitor other things around the house as well, like keeping an eye on your heating system, or collecting any packages shipped to your house. You can also choose to notify a trusted neighbor of your travel plans and leave them your contact information.
There are a number of things that you can do to make it look as if you are still home. Install timers on your lights that follow your regular routines. You can have a trusted neighbor collect your mail, or have it forwarded to another address. Consider leaving a locked car parked in your driveway.
Before you hit the road for your winter vacation, do a final walk through of your home. Ensure all exterior doors and windows are locked. If you have detached buildings like a storage shed or garage, don’t forget to check those as well. Consider adding security bars if an entry point looks easily accessible. Put away any valuables in a secure safe. If you don’t have a safe at home, consider renting a safety deposit box. If you don’t have an inventory of all of your valuables, take photos and store them in a safe location. Lock any vehicles that will be at your home.
Our knowledgeable team works with many top insurance carriers to provide options for protecting your home, vehicles, valuables, and more. If you have questions about your existing insurance policies or about available options, you can reach out to our team here.
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This article is for general informational purposes only and is not to be relied upon or used for any particular purpose. Cross Insurance shall not be held responsible in any way for, and specifically disclaims any liability arising out of or in any way connected to, reliance on or use of any of the information contained in this article. The information contained or referenced in this article is not intended to constitute and should not be considered legal, insurance, accounting or other professional advice, nor shall it serve as a substitute for the recipient obtaining such advice. The views expressed in this article are that of its author and do not necessarily represent the views of Cross Financial Corp. and its subsidiaries and affiliates (“Cross Insurance”) or Cross Insurance’s management or shareholders.