Be the Watchful Neighbor During Vacation Season

Going away this summer?

Flying off to Montana to see Yellowstone? Visiting Grandma in Arizona? Going to Europe for a Quick Get away?

You may want to take some safety steps to protect your home while you are away. As an insurance agent, I have become acutely aware of the potential for theft during vacations. However with some simple actions taken before you leave, your home could potentially be much safer.

Below are some steps, some simple, some not to help protect your house while you are away:
1. Get a good centrally monitored alarm. There are lots of options to choose from now, all the way from standalone alarm companies, to cable companies, to young cheap upstarts such as simplisafe. You can go for a super secure system with motion sensors and cameras or just the basics. Certainty this is one of the best things you can do, but it comes with a cost.

2. Leave a few lights on inside or buy an inexpensive timer that plugs into a wall and turns a light on and off and on and off. Not just on at 9 and off at 10, but on at 9:15 off at 9:30, On at 9:45 off at 11:15. You get the idea.

3. Invest in new keys. Are you really certain that the previous owner handed in all of the keys when you purchased the home? I wouldn't be. Getting your home's locks re-keyed is usually pretty simple and not overly expensive.

4. Speaking of locks, make sure that all of your doors have deadbolts on them. Obviously make sure the deadbolt is fully latched while you are gone.

5. Add timers to outdoor lights. Typically these are done at the light switch. Either a handy man or an electrician would put them in and you would program them. Once they are up and running you'll wonder what took you so long. Just a quick note on them, The modern version of these can have sunrise and sunset calenders in their internal clocks.

6 Add motion sensors to a special outdoor light. The complete opposite of a timed light is one that goes on when it senses motion. This may be just enough to startle a thief and get him to leave.

7. Do the door and window test. Test each locked door and window from the outside to find out where your weak points may be. Consider consulting a handy man to add simple additional locks from your local hardware store to any that give you pause. In some windows a simple wood stick or pvc pipe can produce additional security as well.

8. In some areas of Marin you can let the Sheriff know if you will be out of town. Check with either you local police department or the Marin County Sheriff to see if they can provide a "security check."

9. Make your house look lived in. I know kids bikes in the yard might not look great, but they certainly may make your home seem more active to a potential thief.

10. Contact your neighbors. Email your neighbors and tell them when you are leaving and coming back. Include information about who may be stopping by such as lawn care people and house cleaners. Make sure they scout your home for packages dropped off. Don't forget to make sure they have your contact information for an emergency.

11. Hold your mail with the USPS. Yes, certainly you will be telling the Post Office that you are away. But if you are concerned about trusting your local postal employee than you have much larger issues when they handle your social security numbers on a weekly basis. By holding your mail you will also slow down some of the packages that you have.

12. Stare down strange looking cars that drive through your neighborhood during holiday and vacation seasons. Certainly there is nothing illegal about people driving around on a public street. However there is likely nothing illegal about you watching strange vehicles. But thieves probably will be less likely to conduct break ins on active streets where people take notice of them. Call the police or sheriff if you are suspicious.

13. Invest in a Safe or a Safe Deposit Box. Why not just reduce the chance of theft by safely and securely stashing expensive items either off site or in an impregnable onsite safe? Safes are a great places for jewelry, cash, and familiy heirlooms since these items typically are not covered by standard unendorsed home insurance policies.

14. Finally make a video movie of your home before you leave and back up a copy of this online. Although this may not prevent a crime from happening it will certainly help you provide some sort of evidence of the personal property items that you may have been lost.

Lastly, relax... there is really only so much you can do to protect your home. Most of Marin County is considered to have a very low crime rate. Please don't let the fear of theft ruin your wonderful vacation.

Scott W Johnson is a licensed insurance broker located in Marin County California. He is the Founder and Manager of Marindependent Insurance Services LLC.