Summer has almost arrived in all its glory. Ensure that your home is safe during the time when you are away on vacation, enjoying the company of family and friends at a barbeque, leaving windows open at night, or simply living your best summer life.
Trespassing, theft, and other types of property crimes are unfortunately more prevalent at that time of year. Take note of some of these summer security tips that can be helpful to you and your family. The objective is to reduce the exposure of your home and to discourage potential criminals from picking your home as a target.
We have compiled an extensive list of summer security tips. We want to inform you of what burglars look out for and homeowners can increase security based on this information. We are going to focus on just ten summer security tips:
1. Close your windows
2. Lock your doors
3. Hide your valuables
4. Assess your security system
5. Monitoring of movement
6. Motion light activation
7. Lawn maintenance
8. Hold your mail
9. Get a pet sitter
10. Connect with the neighborhood
There is undoubtedly more you can do to secure your house than just what is listed here as summer security tips. In fact, if you really wanted to spend the time, money, and effort, you could design your security systems to turn your property into a bunker. This is however not quite what we had in mind with this article.
What we would like to achieve by listing some summer security tips, is just to give people a bit of an advantage and make them more vigilant when it comes to securing their homes for the summer. Let’s address some frequently asked questions before getting any further into the list of summer security tips.
FAQ’s
Does the crime rate increase in the summer?
Statistically, yes it does. According to a study carried out by the U.S. Bureau of Justice Statistics, research shows that the crime rate does rise between the months of June and August. During the summer, property related crimes become the bigger threat whilst violent crimes do not see any significant increase.
Burglary crimes increase by roughly 11%, which is significantly higher compared to other types of crime. According to the findings, applying some or all of the summer security tips could be highly beneficial. Even applying just a few of these tips listed, can reduce the risk of your house becoming a target.
How can I best protect my house while I am away?
Going on vacation can increase the risk of your home’s security because a potential thief can tell when there is no one occupying the premises. You could consider inviting a trustworthy friend or family member to stay at your house, during the time that you are away. This is a good solution, but not always possible.
The summer security tips listed, are more about creating the impression that someone is at home, if a potential criminal were to observe your home. Burglars tend to avoid an occupied home, as there is more risk involved for them to be caught or recognized. They prefer to remain undetected.
Making your home appear occupied at all times is a key component of many of the summer security tips featured on our list. Something to point out here is that you should keep social media vacation posts to a minimum. While it’s fun to share your experiences and let your loved ones know that you’re having a great time, frequent sharing of vacation pics also increases your risk of being burgled.
How do most burglars gain entry?
Burglars can be crafty and have numerous tricks up their sleeve to enter houses. Every opening, including doors, windows, garages and more, is an opportunity for them. It goes without saying that the first step in preventing burglaries is to make sure your front door is locked. Better security however, requires a bit more work.
Focus on the bigger picture of how your security measures work in unison with each other, to provide the best possible protection. Use the summer security tips listed to improve on the security measures you already have in place.
Is it worthwhile to install security cameras?
Sometimes it is. Security cameras can be a great purchase for someone who wants to monitor their home around the clock. The costs involved with this type of security solution is the drawback.
The question really is how much you are willing to spend on security monitoring? This is what homeowners need to consider. Security cameras give your property exceptional visual coverage and warn trespassers that their actions will be recorded on camera. Your nearest locksmith can offer you a free onsite estimate if you would like to have security cameras installed. Contact Second City Locksmith for a free estimate.
If you were to decide to have the security cameras installed, this would fit perfectly into the main concept of the summer security tips. It is a question of how much you are willing to invest into home security. Now, without any more delays, let’s get started with the countdown of the top summer security tips.
1. Closing your windows
After a hot summer’s day, what could be better than opening the windows and letting the cool night breeze flow through the room. This is such a typical occurrence in the summertime, that it seems fitting that we start here with our summer security tips countdown.
The biggest disadvantage of opening your windows is that it creates more opportunities for someone to gain entry. Does this then imply that windows should never be opened? Absolutely not! It is essential that we let the fresh air into our homes. The problem comes in when you leave the windows open continuously and fail to close them when you leave the house.
Closing your windows while you are out and being mindful of how long you generally keep your windows open, are a simple solution. These summer security tips are generally quick fixes that simply need a little planning.
2. Locking your doors
Another simple precaution that you can take to secure your property is to lock your doors. As the doors are the easiest entry into any home, this step is the most crucial.
Burglars most likely will gain entryway into your home via a door. Make sure your doors are locked and secure with a good quality locking mechanism. Get your lock serviced or ask your local locksmith to do a lock change and upgrade to a higher quality lock if needed.
Consult with your nearest locksmith, such as Second City Locksmith, as they can offer great security insights. A locksmith with years’ worth of knowledge and experience will be sure to offer you practical security solutions. For instance, homeowners may not be aware that a reinforced door is a step forward to increasing the security of their home.
Your local locksmith is more than just a great resource for security solutions. For a lock installation or a lock change, they will walk you through the process step by step, which enables you to learn about home security at the same time.
3. Hide your valuables
Items of great value usually hold a special place in your home where they can be seen and appreciated. These items may even be of great sentimental value to you or your family, making it even more important to protect them from theft. Are these valuable items visible to the casual observer from the outside?
Our top summer security tips are of little use without careful execution, which in this case may require the slightest tweak. Keep shiny, high-market value items out of places in your home where they can easily be spotted from the outside. Also place items that are important to you out of harm’s way, should a door be kicked in or a window shattered.
It could be that you have a magnificent china cabinet with lighting that shines at night to showcase these beautiful pieces. Of course, you want to display and enjoy these wonderful pieces, but is this also visible from the road?
Make sure to turn off showcase lighting when you are not entertaining or when you are getting ready to go to bed. You don’t want to tempt anyone that may be hiding in the shadows to help themselves to your beautiful items on display. It’s the little things that can have a major impact on home security.
Making use of a good quality safe is another practical idea. Keeping objects in a secure home safe can have added benefits. The biggest benefit being that burglars won’t know where to find your valuables. The same way they deploy deception and cunning to gain entry, you can use these same tactics to hide your valuables.
4. Assess your security system
Similar to what we mentioned earlier, installing a sophisticated security system is a tried-and-tested method of boosting your home security. You might do this by installing security cameras around your home’s perimeter or consider a lock change by having a locksmith exchange your current locks for smart locks.
There are several solutions available in the home security industry. A residential locksmith can provide a wide range of services which can enhance your current hardware, with additions like Bluetooth locks and Wi-Fi enabled smart locks.
Locksmith Chicago technicians are often available at any time of day. Call on your local 24 hour locksmith for a fast service. They will have all the necessary tools and supplies to complete the lock change or new lock installation without a fuss. With just a phone call they will have you feeling protected from any unforeseen circumstances.
5. Monitoring of movement
The installation of a security system is simply one step in the process. The majority of them allow you to keep an eye on movement around your home, especially when you are away. Smart locks can be a wise investment because they are multifaceted and offer homeowners the best user experience.
During your summer vacation take heed of these summer security tips, as remote access is one of the essential components of home security. When the system sends an alert, you are able to track it and get notifications on your phone.
You may even receive alerts and can answer your doorbell with a video link, despite you being far away from home. There are many advanced and automated security systems on the market today for you to choose from. Burglars have been known to mistake these devices for activity inside the home, adding to the false impression that someone is at home!
6. Motion light activation
Motion sensor lights are another great layer of security that fits well into any existing security system. When an intruder is being basked in a bright fluorescent light it becomes a little harder to be discrete. The protection of darkness is no longer an advantage for them and random flashes of light can alert neighboring residents that something is amiss.
7. Lawn maintenance
A guide to summer security tips needs to include some lawn and home maintenance ideas. The presence of long grass and growing weeds can indicate that the property has been unoccupied for a while. This can be an inviting sign to the wrong person that they can snoop around your property uninvited.
It may be a good idea to make an agreement with a reliable person to cut your grass, trim you hedges and water your plants while you are away. It can help in creating the appearance that your property is occupied and simultaneously keeps it looking good. A local teenager could benefit from the work experience and allow them to earn some spending money.
8. Hold your mail
Requesting to hold your mail is quite easy to arrange. The postal service will require you to fill out a form or make this request online. The same way that an unkept lawn is a sign of an unoccupied property, an overflowing mailbox or a package sitting on your front porch communicate the same information.
By requesting that your mail is held, you can prevent your packages from being stolen and prevent a shady character from discovering personal details about you and your family through stealing your mail. You don’t want personal info like account details, names and addresses to be available to the open market. In general, the post office handles this well and couriers will be informed of your request to hold delivery.
9. Hire a pet sitter
Often when we travel, we have to leave our beloved pets at home. Kennels and pet daycare centers can offer the service to host your pets but hiring a pet sitter is another great alternative.
It may be a safer option to have your pet sitter take your dog into their home while you are away. This will avoid your pet sitter from going in and out of your property, locking and unlocking the doors continuously.
This way you can prevent errors, like forgetting to lock a door or close a window, or perhaps leaving keys behind or any other human error that may occur. Find a caregiver that you know will give your animals the love that they deserve!
10. Connect with the neighborhood
There are several benefits to developing good relations with your neighbors. Social gatherings can be fun but cultivating close-knit community relations will add another layer to your home’s security. One of the simplest summer security tips is to let your neighbors know when you go on vacation. They will be outside taking advantage of the summer weather and will keep an eye on your property.
Fostering relationships with your neighbors of course works both ways. It doesn’t require much effort for them to report any suspicious behavior and neighbors often enjoy doing a favor for one another. You can return the favor for them when they go away on vacation. It may result in an area that is even safer and better connected.
Final Words
In conclusion, bolstering your home security for the summer months is imperative. By employing tips like using timers for lights, securing windows and doors, installing security cameras, and keeping your plans offline, you’ll ensure a peaceful, worry-free summer. Remember, a secure home is not only a fortress, but a sanctuary of peace and relaxation.