5 Surprising Ways to Outsmart Burglars

5 Surprising Ways to Outsmart Burglars
By Danielle Contray, Friday, Dec 14, 2012, 12:00 PM
http://www.budgettravel.com/feature/budget-travel-tips-how-to-protect-home-from-burglars,12697/?wpisrc=newsletter

You know not to leave a key under the front mat, but do you know which
appliance should be set to a timer while you're away (hint: it's not the
lights)? Home security experts share the five best things you can do to
protect your nest while you're away.
After a long weekend relaxing on a Caribbean beach or two weeks on that dream trip to Australia,
you pull into the driveway and think, "Funny, I swore I closed that window." And that's when it hits you:  You've been robbed. Most travelers worry about getting their wallets stolen or passports pinchedwhile on the road. But you should also take steps to protect your home while you are away—
especially since more than 2 million burglaries were reported in 2011 in the U.S., and that number
goes up every year (almost 2 percent since 2002). And in 2011, victims lost $4.8 billion worth of
property. Odds are you will come home to a house that is just as you left it, but these five tricks are so
easy, it's not worth taking chances.
Burglarize yourself

No, you don't have to sneak up to your front door wearing a ski mask. Security expert Chris McGoey
suggests taking a critical look at your home and finding any security lapses. He even organizes
parties where neighbors help neighbors make their homes impenetrable. Once you find your way
inside, think like a burglar. Look for quick things to grab (like the iPad on the counter or the
checkbook on the desk). And if you are leaving a car in the garage, don't hang the keys on the hook
by the door. "They can just load up your own car and drive away," cautions McGoey. He also
suggests rethinking your hiding places, like that jewelry or cash in your sock drawer. Everyone does
it, and burglars know that. Wondering if you missed anything? Consult your teenagers. According to
McGoey, "Chances are they've already ransacked your house."
Keep it clean

Every expert's top tip for keeping your house safe while you're away is to be neighborly. And that
goes beyond waving across the driveway and buying Girl Scout cookies once a year. Keep a trusted
neighbor in the loop about your vacation plans. While you are away, they can keep an eye out for
flyers and papers accumulating on your front stoop that scream, "No one has been home for days."
Other red flags for an empty house are a snow-covered driveway or a messy yard. Sweet-talk your
neighbor into shoveling your driveway and front walk if there's a snowstorm while you are away, or
trimming your grass if it starts to look unruly (but be prepared with a thank-you souvenir when you get
back). Chances are they will go on vacation someday, and you can return the favor. Isn't that what
neighbors are for?

Don't recycle

Putting out the recycling before you hit the road is just one more thing to check off the pre-vacation todo list. Consider this, though: Those boxes from your new TV, computer, or tablet aren't trash as
much as advertisements for the great new gadgets just inside your door, warns Kern Swoboda of the
New York State Police. Whether you are traveling over the holidays or not, it's best to wait until you
get home to put out the recycling. If you can't stand the thought of coming home to clutter, another
option is to bring everything straight to a recycling center. Putting out the trash too early can also be a
beacon for burglars, as are empty trash cans sitting on the curb. Yet another thing that friendly
neighbor could help with (make that a really nice souvenir).
Make your house look inviting

The knee-jerk reaction when going away is to close up your house like a tomb. Of courseyou should
lock all the doors and windows. It's the blinds and curtains you should leave open. It may seem like a
good idea to keep anyone from seeing inside your house, but Swoboda actually recommends
leaving the blinds open if you usually leave them open. Burglars notice details like these.
Don't just put lights on timers

Everyone has seen the classic movie Home Alone, where the bungling burglars case the
neighborhood and learn the residents' typical schedules. Yes, that was Hollywood, but according to
Swoboda, this is a very common tactic. Burglars tend to case neighborhoods so they know exactly
when to strike—and which house is likely to be empty. Swoboda's advice is to invest not just in light
timers, but TV timers as well. (Intermatic makes timers that can handle large appliances.) You can set
it for the times you typically watch TV (like if you never miss The Daily Show) as well as random
times during the day to make the house look lived-in