Very few criminals are seeking out difficult targets. While there is a pervasive myth about criminals getting a rise out of the danger involved, the truth is that any criminal making a career out of crime is going to seek out the easiest possible targets, getting the most reward for minimal risk. The goal is to get the goods as quickly as possible and without getting caught.
And could there possibly be any target easier than an empty house?
Because of how easy a target it is, your home is highly vulnerable when you leave to go on vacation. And despite the fact that you are not advertising your vacation to the world, criminals who know what they are doing will still pick up on the signs that you are gone. So, before you go, you need to mask these signs and work to increase your security.
Not sure how to get started with these tasks? Don’t worry; your local locksmith can help you. A professional Washington locksmith service will know exactly what to do to help you keep your home safe while you are gone. Read below to learn more about what your locksmith can do for you.
Mask the Signs
Ask yourself, how do thieves know that you are not at home? While there are cases when there will be an obvious sign, in most cases the thief will have been watching your neighborhood over an extended period of time. Criminals who make crime a career will usually keep their eyes on several different neighborhoods at once, allowing them to notice opportune moments to seize upon. They will rotate between neighborhoods to keep the suspicion down, minimizing the chances of being caught.
Because they tend to monitor neighborhoods, they pick up on your patterns. They know which car goes to which house and they know what time they leave in the morning and return in the evening. They know how often the mailman drops off packages and what time the lights go off, signaling you have gone to bed.
And when you go on vacation, these patterns change or disappear. The car isn’t going anywhere. The lights are not going on and off as normal. The mail is piling up or has stopped completely. Thieves notice this, and they know what it means.
Your locksmith can help you mask some of these signs. He can install timed lights that will go on and off to mimic your usual patterns at home. A new mailbox can be installed to hold more mail and can be secured with a lock so no curious individuals can open it to see if the mail is piling up. However, even the best locksmith cannot mask all signs, which is why you also need to increase security.
Increasing Security
Once you have worked to mask the signs, your locksmith can help make your home more secure overall. He will likely install motion activated lights outdoors to help deter thieves, as well as video cameras, either real or fake. From there, he will work to secure the entrances to your home, installing better locks on doors and windows and reinforcing door jambs.
The locksmith may also offer other, additional solutions, such as alarm systems and nanny cameras. Once he is done, you should have a home that is perfectly secured while you relax and enjoy your travels.
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