Some days in the course of pet sitting I put close to a hundred miles on my car. I drive by a LOT of homes throughout my day. I have found three things that people do that stand out that just SCREAM “We’re not home”! I can usually spot the home of someone who is on vacation with little effort. If it’s that obvious to me, I’m sure it’s even more obvious to a burglar.
What are the three things?
1. Newspapers, mail and packages piling up in the driveway or at your door.
One newspaper in the driveway on Sunday morning just says to me that perhaps you’re sleeping in and haven’t gotten up to get the paper yet. Three or four newspapers laying the driveway tell me you haven’t been home in a few days. Same goes for packages piling up at your doorstep.
2. Outside lights on 24/7.
Do you do that when you’re home? I know I don’t. So why do you do it when you’re away? Put up some lights that are motion sensitive. I drive by homes that have their lights on 24/7 for more than week and it’s obvious to me no one is home. People think it’s more secure when in fact it’s just the opposite.
3. Trash cans by the curb every day for a week or more.
I love when people are considerate and put their trash cans out before they go away so we don’t have to schlep them to the curb (especially the people with a reaaaaaallllly long or steep driveway – you know who you are), but once the trash is picked up we always bring the trash cans back to the house. If they are sitting out there for a week or more it’s just another hint that no one is home.
So tell us, are you guilty of any of these? Do you agree that they scream you’re not home?
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