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Lockout Tips

Social Media Tips for Keeping Home and Auto Safe

social media tips

Social media is a great way to connect with family and friends, but it can also alert burglars that your home is empty and unprotected…especially if you love sharing vacation photos while you’re away.

24 HR Lockouts offers a few simple social media tips that can help protect your home when you’re away:

  • Don’t announce specific vacation plans on social media.
  • If you post regularly, you can continue to do that when you’re away, but make sure the posts don’t suggest your home may be vacant.
  • Don’t share any experiences or photos when you’re away from home that would lead anyone to believe that your home is unoccupied.
  • Make sure you have good homeowners insurance that provides complete protection in the event something unforseen happens when you’re away.
  • Take lots of photos on your trip, but wait until you get home to post them. – Don’t share your location information in any social posts – the humblebrags aren’t worth it!

We all look forward to vacations. Whether you’re planning on soaking up the sun on a tropical beach, or camping in a local park, it’s great to get away. You can relax and enjoy time with your family and friends and forget about the pressures of home and work for a little while … or so you thought.

You’re not the only one who likes it when you go away … burglars love it, too.

Guess which months have the highest burglary rates … that’s right, July and August. And it’s not a coincidence that these are the two most popular travel months, too. Thieves are opportunists who prey upon the naive, unobservant and ill-prepared, and they love it when they know homeowners won’t walk in on them in the middle of a robbery.

So how do you protect your home when you’re away? Nothing is foolproof, but here are few tips that can help protect your home when you’re away for an extended period of time.

  • Secure your home. Burglars don’t need to forcibly enter a home because they can easily get in through an unlocked door or window. It seems simple, but make sure everything’s locked before you leave, including windows located on the second floor and higher, and entrances from the garage into the house. Don’t hide spare keys under door mats, rocks or other easy-to-find places. Instead, give a copy to a trusted neighbor in case of an emergency And, just in case, place dowels in sliding glass doors and windows to prevent them from unwanted opening.
  • Notify a trusted neighbor. Neighbors are a great resource for recognizing when unfamiliar vehicles or people are in the area. Tell your chosen neighbor when you’ll be away, if you have anyone who’s scheduled to stop by your house in your absence and how to reach you in case of an emergency.
  • Make your home appear occupied. Don’t let your mail and newspapers pile up while you’re away. Instead, ask a neighbor or friend to regularly bring them inside, or stop your delivery services until you return. Arrange for someone to mow your grass and trim your hedges in your absence. Setting light timers is another way to give the appearance that someone’s still around.
  • Don’t share plans on social media. Social media makes it easy to share great vacation experiences with family and friends, but it also has become a great way for burglars to learn when you will be away.
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