Tips on Securing Your Home When You are Away

• Make sure to lock all windows and doors. You can use a closet pole or 2x2 cut to fit into your sliding glass doors to insure extra security. Place the bar in the track along the floor channel.

• Tell a friend or neighbor you are leaving, and let them know you are using a home watch service who will be checking your home.

• If you are using an alarm monitoring service, they need to know that you are leaving town. You will also need to let them know that someone will be watching your home.

• Plug your lights and radio into timers throughout your house.

• Make sure you discontinue newspapers and mail deliveries. Ask a friend or neighbor to bring in mail and papers just to be safe.

• Landscape and lawns should be kept up to give a lived in look. contact a local service provider in your area to keep your lawn trim and neat.

• Never leave a telephone message on your answering machine saying that you are out of town, or on vacation. That is just what a thief wants to know.

• Take pictures of your valuables and hide precious jewelry. Inventory valuables and equipment, recording serial and model numbers. You may want to keep them in a safe or safety deposit box at the bank.

• Always remember to wait until the garage door closed before you drive away and check to see if the door is down and secure.