Tips for keeping your home safe while you’re away

If you’ll be away from home for more than a night or two, it’s important to take precautions to ensure your house doesn’t get burgled. Keep these tips in mind as you prepare for your next trip:

• Lock up thoroughly. Make sure you triple-check that all doors and windows are locked before leaving. If you don’t have a security system, consider investing in one to give you peace of mind while traveling.

• Keep curtains and blinds open. A home that’s dark and shut up signals to burglars that the owners are away. If you normally keep your curtains and blinds open, be sure not to close them so your home continues to look lived in.

• Set lights on a timer. Put some of your indoor lights on a timer so that they turn on for a few hours in the evening. It’ll create the illusion that you’re at home.

• Put mail and newspaper delivery on hold. Or, ask a neighbor to collect it for you. A buildup of mail gives away the fact that no one’s home.

In addition to the above, if you’ll be gone for a week or more, it’s best to have someone check in on your house. Ask a trusted friend or neighbor to step inside every few days to make sure that everything is in order.