Are you planning a nice long vacation this summer to get away from the hustle and bustle of daily life? Do you think just because you get out of town that there is nothing to worry about? Statistics show that this is not necessarily the case. “There is a 10-18% increase in home burglaries during the months of June, July, and August. Although home burglaries may seem random in occurrence, they actually involve a selection process. Burglars choose an unoccupied home with the easiest access, the greatest amount of cover, and with the best escape routes.” Because of such statistics, it is best to try to prevent such unwanted occurrences by heeding the following tips:
- Suspend delivery or make sure mail and newspapers are picked up.
- Arrange to have your lawn mowed.
- Put lights, TV and stereo on.
- Ask a neighbor to park a car in your driveway.
- Don’t advertise your absence with notes, or announcements on your voice mail, e-mail, Facebook, or Twitter.
- Turn your telephone ringer down or off.
- Install a motion detector on outside lights.
- Join/start a neighborhood watch group.
- Keep valuable items in your safe deposit box.
- Consider installing an alarm system.
- Lock your doors and windows whenever you leave.
- Don’t hide a key outside your home. Leave it with a trusted friend or neighbor.
At Westgate-Jones Insurance Agency, your safety is very important to us. Though these tips cannot guarantee nothing will happen to your home while you are away, they will definitely reduce the likelihood of such occurrences. We hope they will help you be able to rest easy and enjoy your summer vacation without worrying about your home.
Westgate-Jones Insurance Agency ~ 352-787-7548 ~ www.westgatejonesinsurance.com
*www.hasbrouck-heights.com/house/info/vacation.shtml