Community Corner

Hitting the Road for Turkey Day? Keep Your Home Safe and Secure

Tips from the City of Mercer Island for protecting your home during a trip away for Thanksgiving.

The Thanksgiving holiday is a time when many people choose to travel to see cherised loved ones and long lost friends. Unfortunately, some other people are all too eager to take advantage of those who are away from home for a day or two. The following tips, provided by the City of Mercer Island, should be followed by anyone considering leaving town for the holidays.

  • Lock all doors and windows. Use deadbolts, dowels, or locking pins in sliding glass doors and windows to keep them from being pried open.
  • Never announce your vacation plans on Facebook, My Space, Twitter, or other social networking sites. Burglars can use this as an easy daily planner to steal your things.
  • Use timers on lights, radios, TVs, etc. to make them go on and off during the day and night to make your home appear occupied.
  • Stop mail and newspaper delivery, or have neighbor pick up anything left at the home.
  • Ask the neighbors to watch your home and report any suspicious activities.
  • Leave your itinerary with a neighbor so you can be contacted in an emergency.
  • Disconnect your electric garage door opener and padlock the door, preferably on the inside.
  • Set your burglar alarm and notify your alarm company that you will be away. Then if an alarm occurs when you are away the company will not call your home first to verify the alarm.Β  Β Also provide the alarm company with an up-to-date list of persons to contact about the alarm and the need to secure your home after a burglary.


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