Crimestoppers – “Summertiiiime, and the Stealin’ is Easy”

Fraser Valley/Vancouver – It’s unsettling. Thieves are watching for homes left empty as many of us go away on summer vacation. Victims of burglary not only lose personal and sometime irreplaceable items, but the emotional jolt of having your property invaded is stressful and permanently shakes your sense of security.

Close it up – Lock it up

• Obviously, you should close and lock all windows and doors, and set security alarms. This includes garage doors.
• Don’t leave a spare key outside under a flower plant pot – like they do in the movies.
  It’s an open invitation for a burglar to walk into your house without any forced entry. Better to leave the spare key with a trusted neighbour or friend.
• 

Tell/Don’t Tell

• Tell local police of your plans so they can add your home to their vacation patrol list.
  Be sure to include contact information for your house sitter and yourself.

• Once you’ve left, don’t post public messages on social media that will tip off any shady characters that you’re far, far away.
• Don’t reveal your holiday plans to strangers, not even the cabbie or bus driver taking you to the airport.
• Anyone you do tell, make it sound like you have a house sitter…whether you do or not.
• Don’t put your full home address on your luggage. A postal code is good enough.
  

Leave your home clue-less

• If ordering merchandise online, make sure the package is delivered well before you go away, so it doesn’t sit on the doorstep. Also cancel newspaper, milk and bottled water deliveries.
• Ask a trusted neighbour to collect your mail, and maybe have them park their car in your driveway.
• If you normally leave bicycles, yard tools, ladders outside or in your shed, lock them in the house or garage.
• Trim trees and shrubs near windows and entries, and clean up before you leave –
  don’t give burglars a place to hide.
• An oldie but still a goody: use timers on lights and radios to create the impression that someone is still home.