2 Tips for Protecting Your Home From Burglary This Summer

Few things are more distressing than discovering that someone has entered your home illicitly, rifled through your belongings, and compromised your personal information. Unfortunately, summertime is the most popular season for home burglaries, especially since families tend to travel frequently.

Here are two easy ways to prevent burglary this summer, so you can enjoy the best part of the year.

1. Keep Vacation Plans Private

Whether you've been dreaming about lying on the beach in the Caribbean or you have been saving for that month-long trip to Europe for years, the urge to post your plans on social media can be incredibly difficult to resist.

In addition to getting travel tips from family and friends, you might also be eager to show off that perfect picture of the Eiffel tower or that shot of the surf and sand rushing up against your toes.

While your vacation pictures are a fun way to share your experiences, they can also open you up to potential burglaries — especially if you check in at various locations during your travels. In fact, research has shown that 78% of modern burglars look to social media before choosing targets for home robberies, showing just how telling a post or two can be for people looking to rob your home.

To lower your personal level of risk, keep your vacation plans private. While it may be necessary to tell trusted next-door neighbors about your upcoming trip so they can collect your mail or water the plants, never post plans on social media or give people reason to suspect that you will be gone for a while.

Ask your kids and relatives not to post about your vacation, and if you are traveling with others, ask them not to tag you in their vacation photos either. Instead, share your vacation photos after you get home, and make sure to mention that you have already returned home from your trip.

2. Always Close Your Garage Door

During the summer, you might feel like your garage is more like a revolving door. In addition to being opened and closed several times a day as you and your family members come and go, you might also find that your door needs to stay open as you take care of yard work or home improvement projects.

However, an open garage door gives burglars the chance to canvas your home quickly and easily. With a single driving pass by your home, burglars may be able to see what kind of car you drive, what recreational equipment you keep handy, and which power tools you have collected over the years.

Furthermore, because it isn't always easy to remember to close garage doors, and it isn't uncommon to see people park cars on driveways, burglars can quickly and easily drive up to your home, wander into your garage, and take whatever they like.

To prevent these kinds of thefts, focus on keeping your garage door closed as much as possible. If you need to work in your garage but you are worried about it being stuffy, consider opening the door halfway so people can't see into your space. Consider installing a garage door opener with an automatic closure feature, which senses movement and automatically closes the door when it senses inactivity.

Many home security systems can also be tied into garage doors, allowing homeowners to use their built-in home automation controls to check the status and close their garages via smartphone when they aren't home.

Remember, you can make your home a safer, more secure place this summer by giving us a call here at Phoenix Access Control . As the Valley's leading security business, we can help with everything from seamless electronic key control systems to security systems designed to monitor every part of your home.