Protect Your Home When You Travel: Safety Tips

The San Marino Police Department reminded residents to be vigilant about home safety while travelling through a video link sent out in a CLEARS email message Tuesday.

“August is the summer month when many of us travel,” said the SMPD message. “A terrible end to a wonderful vacation is coming home and finding you have been victim of a crime.”

The SMPD linked to this brief how-to video by Stratfor Global Intelligence that gives tips on preventing someone from entering a home and committing a crime such as burglary.

Some of the video’s tips include:

• Take advantage of your Neighborhood Watch so you can know the volume, scope and kinds of crimes that occur around you.  

To find out more about San Marino’s Neighborhood Watch, click here.

• Lock doors with deadbolts that are pick resistant.

• Get a good alarm system and check it monthly.

• Tell a neighbor your travel itinerary.

• Hold delivery of your mail and newspaper while you are away so they don’t pile up and start suspicion that you are not home.

• Have your yard maintained while you are away so it looks like someone is still home.

• Close the garage before you leave.

• Lighting: Have good perimeter lighting on the outside of the home and maintain it while away. Have interior lights turn on via timer to give the appearance that you are at home.

The CLEAR program enables residents to sign up for email alerts from the San Marino Police Department. To sign up, click here.