Publication date: 07/15/2011

Going away? A few tips to deter burglars

You've got the car packed for the cottage or have the suitcases lined up at the front door waiting to go to the airport for that dream vacation. Have you forgotten anything? What about making sure your home is secure while you are gone?

Statistics show that July and August are the most frequent months for break-ins, and a big reason for that is homes being empty while the owners are away on vacation.

To decrease your chances of being burglarized while on vacation, police departments have always suggested measures like locking your doors and windows, stopping delivery of mail and newspapers, using a timer to turn lights on and off, and tuning to a talk radio station. (I like WJR.) Let's improve on some of them.

Manually disengage your garage door from the opener and lock it. That way thieves can't open it with a "code grabber" that allows them to activate your garage door opener.

If you are still using those round appliance timers with the little pins to turn on and off your lights, upgrade to a digital timer. This way you can have your lights go on and off at different times day-to-day, further confusing burglars.

Put a table lamp and timer in the bathroom and have it go on and off 10-30 minutes every hour or so during the overnight and early morning hours to simulate what really happens when someone is home.

Contact your local police department so they can watch your house.

Macomb County Sheriff Tony Wickersham said residents in his area can fill out a House Watch List request form online at www.macombsheriff.com to alert his department to vacation plans. Once notified, Wickersham said officers will try to make a pass by the home at least once a shift. He also said vacationers should make sure their grass gets cut while they are away and have a bag of garbage in front of the house on garbage day so it looks like they're still home.

"One of the most important things you should do is have a trusted neighbor or family member keep watch on your house. Have them park a car in the driveway to make it look like someone is home," Wickersham said. "And if you do have an alarm system, make sure you let a neighbor know both the code and the alarm company's contact number in the event it is accidentally tripped."

While it is important to ensure that no one breaks into your home while you are gone, it is just as important to make sure you don't have any interior damage caused by an overflowing sump crock or sewer backup.

Along with their burglar alarms, home security companies such as Guardian Security Services, www.guardianalarm.com, or ADT Services, www.adt.com, offer monitoring of temperature changes and detect water leaks. One company, Control Products, (800) 947-9098, www.controlproductsinc.com, offers do-it-yourself monitoring products that will automatically call you if there is a problem.

"While our products are very easy to install and use, there isn't a monthly fee like an alarm company would charge," said Brian Christenson, Control Products' trade sales manager.

Christenson said the company's WaterAlarm Dialer can be placed anywhere water leaks or backups can occur and will automatically dial your cell phone or neighbor and alert you when water is detected. He also recommended the multi-function HomeSitter that monitors water, interior temperature and power outages. It connects to a phone jack or a cell phone adapter and standard electrical outlet with a battery back-up in case the power goes out. They range in price from $69 to $349, and are available at many ACE Hardware and Menards stores, as well as online.

Even if you take every precaution to make your home safe, here are two final tips for those that seem to share everything on Twitter or Facebook. First and foremost, don't announce to everyone that you are leaving town. Finally, refrain from "checking in" and posting vacation photos until after you return. You may think only your friends are paying attention to what you're doing, but often burglars are, too.

Note: This article was accurate at the date of publication. However, information contained in it may have changed. If you plan to use the information contained herein for any purpose, verification of its continued accuracy is your responsibility.

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