Crib Safety: Defend Your Home While You Aren't There

Vacations can be stressful. For families with children, not only does it include packing yourself and your spouse, but also packing the children, getting all their laundry done, and more. However, there’s one thing that most people should’t have to worry about while they are on vacation: protecting your crib – especially while you are gone for an extended time. Of course, crib means your house – your castle. While most don’t want to contemplate the ‘what ifs,’ the fact is: your home is most vulnerable when it is empty and you are hundreds of miles away.

It doesn’t take a genius to figure it out. In fact, even the two bonehead burglars depicted in the “Home Alone” sagas had it figured out. Anytime the house is empty it is especially susceptible. Thankfully, there are some things you can do to make your residence less attractive to robbers. Our experts offer some insider tips to safeguard your crib.

No one knows the habits of criminals better than the police department. Longview Police Department Public Information Officer, Kristie Brian, explains that and empty house is ideal for crime. She says that more burglaries and break-ins actually happen during the day when people are at work and the house is empty than at night. The first cue nobody is home: mail.

Mail, newspapers and magazines that are turning into a pile in the driveway or mailbox are a large red flag signaling – empty! The easiest thing to do is have all mail and newspaper delivery stopped during the vacation. Or, if it is a brief period of time that you will be gone, simply have a trustworthy neighbor gather your newspaper out of the driveway in the morning and check your mailbox in the afternoon. This will ensure the mail doesn’t collect all day.

Another tip Brian offers, is to hire a house sitter. “Have a trusted friend or relative stop by periodically and open the house, garage, turn on the lights and even move the cars around.” This will keep the house from looking stagnant and will convince anyone keeping watch that someone is there on a regular basis.

Brian’s fourth tip for keeping your crib safe is to have the local police department watch your address while you are gone. You can call the local PD and have a ‘vacation watch’ placed for your residence. A local officer will check on the home will the homeowners are away and make sure everything is normal. Another tip that may seem a little out of the ordinary is to make arrangements for the yard to be maintained as normal. “Make sure the grass is mowed just prior to leaving and if the homeowner is going to be gone for an extended period make arrangements for the lawn to be maintained as normal,” Brian explained. “Don’t necessarily tell the lawn care company that you will be out of town.”

Her final tip: don’t advertise on social media that you will be out of town. Details like: where you are, and when you will be returning tips that your home will be vacant. Don’t be temped to put posts on Facebook saying: “I’m so excited about our trip,” or “On the beach in Destin.” Brian says, “The fewer people that know you are on vacation the better.”

Another view from a home-security stance is the perspective of a home builder. Gary Bayless, President of Bayless Custom Homes Inc. says there are several features he builds into homes and suggests to homeowners to prevent burglaries. Bayless says “I always included the security factors in when we are designing a up to and including ‘safe’ rooms in case of tornados.” Alarms are a must, Bayless recommends, to alert of any danger. This includes: monitored alarm systems, fire alarms, glass break alarms.

For outdoor and backyard protection, motion sensors and flood lights can help deter any intruders. He also recommends to keep all exterior lights on timers so they are on at night. Make sure to cover/hide any outdoor items such as flatscreen TVs and grills. Bayless said, “Unfortunately exterior motion detection is about the only way to keep these type of things protected. "The downside is that sometimes blowing leaves can set them off."

He also suggests to make sure all windows and doors are securely locked. If you have a door that sticks or, even worse, one that doesn’t quite catch – before the trip is definitely the time to get it fixed. He also suggests, “It is always a good idea to turn washing machine water connections off. Make sure your alarm company knows how to reach you.”

Jim Toman of Jim Toman Insurance says that if you work hard all day to afford your house and everything in it, it makes sense keep it protected while you are away. He offers some final tips to keep your home safe. Make sure all appliances are turned off. Double check all locks before leaving the house. Let trustworthy neighbors know how long you will be out of town. Make sure they have your cell phone to contact you in case of any suspicious activity. Also let them know if you are expecting any maintenance on your home while you are gone. Let them know who is coming and on what day. You can also leave a radio on tuned into a talk show station. To intruders, it might sound like someone is in the house.

And a final tip that can be used for Christmastime, birthdays and even vacations is done on a daily basis by many people. Brian says when a homeowner gets a new electronic item (or something of great value) that comes in a large box, do not place the box in tact by the curb for trash pick up. This is an advertisement to burglars: “Look what I just bought that is now in my house.” She recommends to tear the box up and place it inside the trash bin or dispose in a landfill or public dumpster.