Headed out of town to visit friends and family this holiday season? Well, there’s a little more to it than getting packed and gassing up the car, especially this time of year.

Here are a few helpful tips to follow, especially if you want to return from vacation to find everything in its place and undisturbed.

Keep burglars guessing

One of the best ways to keep burglars out is to create the illusion that someone is home.  So, before you leave, set your lights and even your main TV on a timer.  If you don’t have an extra car to leave parked in your driveway, ask a neighbor to use your driveway while you’re gone.

Mail, newspaper, and other deliveries

Nothing screams “nobody’s home!” quite like uncollected mail and a stack of newspapers of UPS deliveries on your front porch or stoop.  If you don’t want to stop the deliveries you can predict, engage a friend or family member to collect them for you once a day – the earlier, the better.  Even if you do place a temporary hold on newspaper and mail deliveries, there’s no telling when an unexpected Christmas package might arrive.  So, the smart move is to have someone on standby and available to check your house at least once a day.

Plan for the weather

Don’t leave windows open as you don’t want to return to find you can make a snowman in your living room! Also, you can prevent pipes from freezing by turning off all external faucets and setting your thermostats no lower than 55 degrees.  As an added precaution, hire someone to remove snow, slush, or ice should a winter storm strike during your absence.

Unplug

To save some money, unplug any non-safety-related appliance before leaving town.  That includes items like computers, TV’s, DVR, clock radios, and more.  Even items like your toaster, coffee maker, lamps, and more continue to draw power when plugged in but not being used.

Lock up

Naturally, you want to sure that all windows and doors are locked before you depart for your holiday destination. You’ll also want to close your fireplace flue, or ensure that it already is.

Yes, more burglaries take place during the holiday season that at any other time of year.  But that doesn’t mean burglaries suddenly stop come the New Year.  So, if you’re looking for a more permanent and all-encompassing home security solution, contact Now Security Systems today to request a free and no-obligation in-home consultation.  We have more ways to protect your home and family than ever.