During the holidays, many families travel away from home to spend time with friends and relatives. Whether you plan on being gone for one night or one week, it is important to make sure your home is secure while you are away.
According to reports from the National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS), two specific types of crime increase in December – robbery and personal larceny. In December, robberies increase by about 20% compared to previous months. The highest number of burglaries are typically during the summer.
Though the crimes are similar, there is a distinction in the law. According to U.S. News and World Report, “burglary involves entering a home or another building illegally, whether or not something is stolen, while robbery involves taking property from a person through threats or fear of harm.”
An empty house is tempting for potential burglars, but there are steps you can take to make sure your possessions stay where they belong while not having to rob a bank yourself.
Monongalia County Sheriff Perry Palmer said keeping your home secure is “pretty basic stuff,” but if you don’t take the steps to do it, you could be at risk.
“If you’re going to be out of town for some time you need to make sure you leave some lights on in the residence at night,” Palmer said.
Light timers and smart lightbulbs can help create the illusion of an occupied home by turning on lights at appropriate times during the day.
Palmer also said, “You need to make sure everything is secure.”
Locking doors and windows may seem obvious at first but can easily be overlooked in the chaos of loading your family into the car. Back doors and windows are some of the most common entry points for burglars.
While turning on lights and locking the doors can be done as you leave, some security efforts may need a little forethought or pre-planning.
“It helps to get your paper and your mail stopped or have somebody come by and pick it up, so it’s not left out in the driveway – that is a tip for people to know that you’re out of town,” Palmer said.
In our online world, many people don’t think about the dangers of posting to social media accounts while they are on vacation. But criminals monitor those sites to find homes of people who are on vacation — and telling the world their homes are empty by posting publicly on Instagram.
If you are on social media such as Facebook, make sure you go through your settings so that any posts you create are shared only between you and your family and close friends. Make sure your location is not set to be shared.
Security cameras are also a common, but more costly, solution to home burglary prevention. There is a caveat, however. A home security system alone may not stop burglars if the other precautions, like locking your doors, have not been taken. Many modern cameras also allow for remote access and two-way audio, allowing you to talk to whoever is looking to burglarize your home.
Palmer said Monongalia County Sheriff’s Department also offers a vacation watch service for those in the county. A few days before you leave, you can go to the sheriff’s office and provide your information: where you live, how long you will be gone, and if there will be cars outside the residence.
“We then have deputies on different shifts go by and make sure the residence is secure,” he said.
Individual city departments also offer similar services.
