It’s the unofficial end of summer vacation season: Labor Day Weekend. For many, Labor Day Weekend is the last chance to “get away” for a long weekend this summer. If you are one of the many people planning on packing a bag and heading out for a short adventure, make sure your home is safe before you pull out of the drive way.
Here are a few tips and statistics put together by Ooma, a leading DIY home phone and security company.
KEEP THE LIGHTS ON: Integrate light timers or smart lights that you can control with your phone to make your home look lived-in and deter break-ins.
MIND THE FRONT DOOR: 34% of break-ins occur at the front door. Monitor when the door is open versus closed (or has been tampered with). Different systems, like Ooma’s Home Security, integrate with Nest via their Telo feature, where homeowners set parameters for when they expect visitors to stop by to check on the house, and get alerted if the door doesn’t open within that timeframe.
CHECK WINDOW LOCKS: 23% of break-ins occur through first-floor windows. Use classic sash locks to keep windows locked, and install wireless motion sensors on your doors and windows to be alerted if a window is opened.
FANS AND A/C UNITS: A popular summertime burglary entry point: pushing in a window A/C unit. Install motion sensors near window A/C units, and consider uninstalling window A/C units if you’re leaving town.
BEWARE OF SLIDING DOORS: Sliding doors are another popular entry point, as the locks are generally easy to pick. Install physical barrier bars in the tracks, and set up motion detectors in the vicinity.
WATCH YOUR SOCIAL MEDIA: Do not post a “Bon Voyage” update on your social media page. This is the same as leaving a big note on your front door reading “We’re not here! Come on in and help yourself to our stuff!”
About Cat Wilson
