Be Careful of WHAT and WHEN You Post Family Photos!
Travelling during the Christmas holiday season? There's nothing worse than coming back to a home that just had a break-in.
Here's the TOP 6 HOLIDAY SECURITY TIPS you can implement to protect your Home and Property while you're travelling.
1. USE COMMON SENSE
DO NOT advertise on Facebook or Instagram that you are on vacation. Social media is the equivalent of a diary in a glass house. You may think you’re letting your friends and family know you’re having a great time, but people often forget to change their privacy settings. Thieves will also know you are travelling.
If you like to post photos - post them after you get back.
If you lose a key, then get the locks changed. A better alternative is to eliminate keys altogether by installing an alarm.com smart lock with built in keypad.
Ask all strangers for identification. The person who is “lost” and looking for directions could actually be a burglar checking to see if someone is home.
Never hide an extra key outdoor - especially underneath a mat or on top of a light fixture. This is the first place the bad guys look. Leave an extra house key with a friend or a neighbor. Again, a better alternative is to eliminate keys altogether by installing an alarm.com smart lock with built in keypad.
For insurance purposes take photos of the contents of your home and keep all receipts in an off-site location. Great options are Google Drive, Microsoft Cloud and Dropbox.
Write down the model and serial number of all electronics. This will come in handy for a future Police report and insurance claim.
2. MAKE IT DIFFICULT
Door chains are easy to bypass. Install deadbolts. We have alarm.com smart lock options with built in deadbolts.
Install window bars on all basement windows. They are a great visual deterrent and can be connected to a monitored home security system.
Install a stopper or stick on all sliding doors and windows. You can find these at your local hardware store such as Home Hardware, Canadian Tire or Rona.
Make sure all doors and windows are locked. Many burglars go door to door looking for targets that forgot to lock their front doors.
For cabins, consider installing roller window and door shutters. Visit kimbel.ca to see samples.
3. MAKE IT LOOK LIKE YOU ARE AT HOME
Burglars target unoccupied homes so keep your home well lit at night. Install timers that turn lights, radios and televisions on at different times. This gives the appearance that someone is home. A better option is to install alarm.com smart lights and smart appliance modules and setup on an alternating schedules.
If you’re taking an extended vacation of more than a week, hire a student or service to shovel your driveway.
Cancel the newspaper and have a friend or neighbour pick-up your mail.
Park a vehicle in the drive-way. Don’t forget to lock the doors and remove any valuables.
4. INSTALL A MONITORED HOME OR CABIN SECURITY SYSTEM
The insurance companies agree. You are 400% less likely to have a break-in and can qualify for an insurance discount of up to 25%.
- NEW! $0 Equipment, $0 Installation Plans
- No Phone Line required
- 24/7 Monitored Protection from intrusion, fire, flood, low temperature, and carbon monoxide
- Includes Police / RCMP and Fire Department dispatch and Call List notification
- Optional ALARM.COM - control your smart lights, smart locks, and smart thermostat with *free apps
- Optional ReedHD™ Wi-Fi Doorbell - Know Who's at the front door, record audio and video onto the cloud
- A monthly subscription is required for all service plans
5. IN CASE YOU DO HAVE A BREAK-IN
If it looks like a door or window was forced open, DO NOT go inside. The Burglar may still be on site.
Call the Police from your mobile phone and wait.
6. ALWAYS GET 3 QUOTES
Do NOT Sign Up with Door to Door alarm companies with Limited Time Offers. Before you know it you will be on the hook for thousands of dollars with a company that doesn't have a local office. Many door to door alarm companies have summer programs (May to September only). After that good luck. Be sure to search Google for reviews and ask friends and family who they use for home security.
If you would like more information on Smart Home or Business Security & Automation please Contact Us for a Free Security Evaluation.
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