Leaving Home

If you are planning an extended trip and leaving your home unattended, there are several ways to protect your home from unwanted visitors. A vacant house, or one that appears to be unoccupied is an appealing target for burglars or vandals. Follow these guidelines to ensure your home is safe:

• Ensure door and window locks function properly - use them.
• Give your house a lived-in appearance. Place automatic timers on several lights, a radio, and a television. Set the timers so that the lights and appliances turn on and off at random times.
• Leave shades and blinds in a position that you would normally leave them.
• Arrange for a trusted neighbour or friend to pick up mail or other items delivered to you while you are away. Consider stopping newspaper delivery.
• Ask someone to mow your lawn, rake leaves, shovel snow and maintain the yard.
• Have a neighbour or friend check both inside and outside the house every few days.
• Ask your neighbour to use your driveway and place your garbage cans at the curb while you are away.
• Leave up-to-date emergency contact information for your neighbour or friend.
• Turn the ringer on your telephone to low or off. Do not leave your lights on 24 hours a day.
• Consider taking valuables to a bank safety deposit box.
• Don’t announce your absence on answering machine messages; leave a normal message on the machine.
• Set your security alarm. Ensure that the person watching your home has the security alarm code and password.

For more information on protecting your home, visit the Edmonton Police website and contact BGR Security Systems to arrange a free walkthrough and security assessment of your home.