Protect Your Home from Crime While You're Away

If you need to travel for either business or fun, how can you prevent a crime involving your home? Begin by making it appear as though someone is at home. Here are a few tips that can help you achieve that appearance:

• Keep shades and blinds in their normal positions.
• Stop mail and newspapers, or ask a neighbor to pick them up daily.
• Put household lights on timers so they turn on and off at appropriate times.
• Arrange to have seasonal yard work completed while you’re gone.
• Make sure all your door and window locks are in working order — and use them.
• Activate your home alarm (if you have one).
• Leave a radio on — or put it on a timer.
• Ask a neighbor to park in your driveway overnight or at times during the day.
• Lock the garage door and the door leading from the garage into the house (if your garage is attached to your house).