Address home safety before traveling

Travel tends to rise in warm weather when school is no longer in session. A 2016 study from Google and Phocuswright, a global travel market research company, found 55 percent of leisure travelers take one to two vacations per year. While vacationers may be readying what to pack and which sights to see, many may not put the same level of thought into making sure their homes are protected while they’re away. Returning from vacation to find someone has broken into your home can quickly spoil vacation memories. Basic smarts and preventative measures can help calm fears and protect homes from criminals. • Alert the alarm company. If you employ an alarm service, contact a customer service representative to alert them that you will be away for a certain period of time. This way they’ll be sure to send the police or respond in a timely manner if the alarm is triggered. • Move valuables. Rent a safety deposit box and place jewelry, important papers and other irreplaceable items in the box. This is a security measure that can offer considerable peace of mind. • Ask friends for help. Request that neighbors or friends keep an eye on your house. Ask them to pick up deliveries, collect the mail, take the pails in and out on trash days, and maintain an appearance of normalcy. House sitters also can be employed to temporarily live in your home if you will be away for an extended period of time. • Keep information private. Resist the urge to advertise your plans on social media or other social networking sites, even if you’re excited about the trip. The anonymity of the internet can make it difficult to gauge who is accessing your posts. Criminals may be lurking online. • Purchase timers. Set timers or use smart home devices to turn lights on and off. Such timers and devices can give the impression that someone is home. • Unplug appliances. Save power and reduce the likelihood of appliances being damaged by storms and power surges by unplugging the television, computer and other electronics. Unplugging also offers security that certain items, like toaster ovens and coffee pots, will not turn on and potentially catch on fire. • Remove spare keys. State Farm Insurance recommends that homeowners collect any hidden spare keys from the exterior of their homes prior to going on vacation. • Secure the garage. Thieves can gain access through the garage, especially if they can tap into a vehicle’s remote garage door opener. Disable the remote, and make sure doors are locked. Prior to going on vacation, homeowners can take steps to protect their homes from thieves, ensuring they ultimately return home to a safe, worry-free home.