Holidays are near. Now you could decorate trees, spend time with family and friends; or take a long vacay to lounge lazily on your bed, or bask in the sun in Hawaii.
The way we see it, you don't want to associate yourself with distressing tales of burglaries.
Still, police reports indicate an increased rate of property crimes like robberies, burglaries, and larceny around the house during holiday seasons.
Apparently, burglars are counting on residents going out of town, shopping for supplies, or getting too distracted for a chance to steal valuables.
That's why installing a smart home security system deserves a place on your holiday to-do list.
Nonetheless, while you prepare for a getaway weekend or entire weeks out of town, take these extra steps to protect your home from holiday heists.
Ways to Protect Your Home from Holiday Heists
Luckily, you don’t have to transform your home into Fort Knox to keep valuables safe from burglars. Often, small things like choice of location for a hide-a-key or attention to back entrances and window locks improve the security of your home.
So, here are 6 simple ways to burglar-proof your home while you have a memorable holiday experience:
1. Secure Door and Window Locks
Obviously, this goes without saying. But to be sure you’ve locked doors and windows properly, double-check just before the family leaves for a trip or goes off to bed.
Old locks might be easier to get through, so it’s best to update them with new ones. The best practice is to rekey a new house you’ve just moved into and change locks after a security incident or if you lose the keys.
Some neighborhoods may require extra steps to reinforce the doors and windows of your house. Just a few additions to a regular lock — like mounting a strike plate to your door hinge or installing a deadbolt — will add more protection to your home.
Pro tip — Consider installing smart locks in front doors and back entrances that integrate seamlessly with your home security system. The ProSeries Panel that goes with our smart security device features the ability to wirelessly control smart locks, lights, thermostats, and more — while allowing you time to really enjoy the holidays.
2. Install a Home Security System
If you don’t already have one, consider installing a home security system to deter intruders. It gives you peace of mind knowing your valuables are secured.
There are a few reasons why this makes a home more than three times less likely to be broken into. One is that six out of 10 burglars will shift their attention from a targeted residence if there is a security system installed.
However, to protect the entire house, provide the right condition for home security systems to function.
Remove obstructions like trees that will block a clear view of the entire property through outdoor cameras. Spend a little on outdoor lighting to keep darker areas well-lit at night — backyard and tree shades — and highlight main entry points.
Also, think about upgrading to a smart security system like the GVTC connectHome security package for more than just anti-burglary protection for your home. Get the ability to:
- Arm or disarm your system remotely when you forget to do so before leaving and receive alerts when your perimeter is breached.
- Monitor the front door remotely through HD video doorbell cameras using a mobile app. This allows you to answer the door even when you’re not at home or prevent package theft.
In this age of automation, smart security systems make it easier to protect your home and have an incident-free holiday.
3. Become More Vigilant with Things Around the House
The FBI reported an almost 10% decrease in the rate of burglaries in 2019. Still, at least one incident happens every 30 seconds in the entire country.
Besides, with the bustle of holiday times providing burglars opportunities to strike, you have to be vigilant not to fall, victim.
Here are a few ways to be more vigilant with your home security:
- Hide home keys away in a safer place. A smart lock would eliminate the need to hide a spare key outside the house. Otherwise, avoid the most obvious places a would-be burglar would first look — under doormats, garden figures, and plant pots.
- Keep tools, patio furniture, and dangerous hardware securely locked indoors. Organize them in storage boxes in the basement. But if you don’t have enough space, consider adding a secure shed to the yard.
- Make sure the house number plate is clearly visible. This will help check against doorstep scams and aid in a call for help in case of an emergency.
- Keep the yard clean to cut out bushes where attackers might hide. Ensure there’s a clear view of the yard on all sides. If you own a garden, consider putting in a fence to deter would-be intruders from accessing the house through that spot.
4. Make It Look Like Someone is Home
To deter intruders and protect your home while on vacation, imitate some activity around the house.
One way to make it look like someone is home is to have the neighbors, a friend, or a caretaker come by to take in mails and packages. Allowing deliveries to pile up on the front door is a clear sign that no one’s home.
Get familiar with your neighbors. Maintaining a good relationship with neighbors is good for more than just having someone to wave hello to. You can give spare keys to neighbors for safe-keeping. They can also help keep an eye on the house or feed the pet when you go out of town.
Alternatively, you can employ the services of a caretaker or a house sitter to watch the house, keep the ground, make sure your garden plants don't die while you enjoy the holidays.
5. Secure Garage Door
Intruders can use large boxes and clutter in the garage as hiding places before an attack. Organize storage boxes and tools in the garage to make space. Secure the garage with a smart garage door system.
Make use of garage space or outdoor storage sheds to secure cars, bicycles, and so on against vehicular break-ins and theft.
Pro tip —
Simplify and automate home security with the GVTC smart home security features. Set up smart scenes to lock/unlock garage doors or secure window and door locks at specific times. Also, geofencing triggers the home security system when you go beyond the specified perimeter.
Smart home features depend on the time of day, distance, and device to give you a stress-free welcome when you’re almost home or to secure the house when you leave.
6. Keep Valuables Out of Sight
Risks to personal safety and security are unavoidable, but we can at least keep valuables hidden safely to reduce the chances of attracting burglars to the home.
Consider buying a safe you can install in the wall or mount on a shelf, under a table, or in the closet. There are various smart options you can buy without breaking the bank.
Stay Safe Always, Upgrade Your Home Security
Holidays should be a fun and relaxing time for you and the family. But you would hardly enjoy it if you keep thinking when or how an incident might hit and put a fork through your plans.
So, take proactive steps to reduce the possibilities of holiday heists. Consider a combination of any of the methods mentioned in this article.
However, your best bet at remaining secure and achieving peace of mind while you enjoy some fun time is to install a smart home security system.
A security device is not an impulse purchase. So take some time to research for the best deal you can get.
You can check out the features of GVTC’s state-of-the-art smart home security system or learn more about offers available in your area at gvtc.com.
