Having a Tulsa or OKC security
system will provide the most comprehensive protection, but below are some
other tips to help keep your home and business safe while you’re away.
·
Put your
lights on timers. – Setting your exterior and interior lights to come on
for a while during the evening will help give the appearance of a normal schedule.
Businesses should always have adequate lighting both inside and outside of
their business for people to clearly see any suspicious activity inside. Motion
sensor lights can also help to discourage thieves.
·
Check the
locks and security system before you leave. – In the excitement of planning
to leave, it may be easy to forget to lock all the doors and windows –
including sliding glass doors. These can be further secured by using poles
placed in the slats. Make sure you activate your security and surveillance
system when you leave, as well as telling your Tulsa
or OKC security company when you’ll be gone.
·
Have your
mail and newspapers stopped. – This may be a simple suggestion, but it may also
be the easiest to forget when you’re busy packing. A pile of periodicals by
your door is one of the simplest ways a criminal can tell that no one’s home.
While you can put your mail on hold for 30 days, there may still be other parcels
delivered while you’re away. It’s a good idea to have a neighbor or friend pick
these up while you’re gone.
·
Employ a
house or pet sitter. – Along with having a monitored security system,
probably one of the best ways to safeguard your home is to have a neighbor or
friend stay there while you’re on vacation. If you have pets, a pet sitter can
also check on your home and take any packages inside while caring for your pets.
·
Advertise
your security system. – Homes and businesses publicizing that they have a
security system may prevent thieves from thinking they’re an easy target. Make
sure to place warning signs in the front and backyard of your home.
·
Let a
trusted neighbor know you’ll be away. – The next best thing to a
full-fledged house sitter is a trusted neighbor who can stop by and even pull
your garbage and recycling bins out for trash day to keep up the normal
routine.
·
Regular
lawn maintenance. – Especially during summer, the first sign that residents
are away for a while is probably an un-mowed lawn. Hiring a professional lawn
maintenance company that can keep up the maintenance on your lawn and property
will keep your home from looking vacant, and prevent you from having an
out-of-control lawn when you return. Have the landscaping company trim the
trees and shrubs by your home so as to keep windows visible from the outside.
Planting shrubs with thorns or thistles by your windows can also make it much
more difficult for thieves to break in.
·
Unplug
all your electronics. – Unplugging electronics and small appliances like
your television, coffee pot, and computer can help prevent a house fire and
save you money while you’re away. Turning off your garage door can also help to
prevent thieves from breaking in.
·
Keep your
valuables away from windows. – Make sure valuable electronics like home
computers, flat screen televisions, or other valuable items cannot be clearly
seen from outside so as not to invite thieves, or make it easier for them to
“smash and grab” these valuables.
·
Don’t
“share” too much. – While the world is in love with sharing their life on
social media, be careful to not share too much – both online and in real life.
Thieves can also read status updates that tell people when you’re going on
vacation, so be as vague as possible if you share any of your plans on the
World Wide Web. Sometimes people also casually share their plans with people
they meet at the grocery store or other shops who they do not know well. Be
careful about sharing any sensitive information with people other than close
friends.
These are just a few ways to keep
your home safer - both when you’re on vacation and when you’re at home. For OKC
and Tulsa area businesses, Mac Systems offers a commercial alarm monitoring service for
your fire and security systems to keep your business safe at all times. Have a
safe and fun spring vacation!
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