Here are some tips for keeping your home or business safe if you’re planning to be away for any amount of time.

Keeping Your Home Safe During Summer Vacations

Keeping your home safe while on vacation during the summer looks a little different than it does for businesses, which don’t have this predictable seasonality of vulnerability. But you can put preventative measures in place regardless to ensure your home is protected. After all, it’s what you’ll come home to and where you’ll spend the most time after you get back. Here are some tips for keeping your home safe during summer vacations:

• Secure doors, and windows: All them! Most people these days have security measures in place for doors, but they can always be improved. Many don’t think about the windows, however (and criminals know this).
• Use timers: For lighting and electronics, invest in a timer to turn them on and off at the schedule you desire. This gives the appearance of someone still living there.
• Install a video doorbell: If you don’t have one yet, now is the time to get one. You can remotely access, manage, and even speak to visitors via a video doorbell.
• Stop mail, and newspaper delivery: If mail or newspapers pile up, that signals that you aren’t at home. Schedule a gap in delivery, or ask a neighbor to collect them for you.
• Maintain your landscaping: Another indication of a home without residents is a lawn that gets overgrown or messy. Make sure you keep up your landscaping schedule.

Keeping Your Business Safe During Summer Trips

Business security has a different approach. You want to protect your building, inventory, and resources, but thankfully you don’t have to worry about family safety as much. Here are some tips for keeping your business safe during summer trips:

• Upgrade your security system: If your security system doesn’t let you access it remotely or doesn’t give you a view of all accents points, it’s time to upgrade.
• Install video or voice intercoms: This can help you protect certain areas of your business while you’re away, even if you stay open. Examples include a room with safes or a space with important documents. 
• Maintain your grounds: Like the landscaping note above, make sure you still have janitorial, and maintenance tasks completed while you’re away. Trash, dirt and other debris can tip off criminals that you’re gone.
• Don’t advertise closures in advance: This is a little tricky for businesses who have customers, but try not to post about business closures on social media far in advance (which gives criminals time to plan). If you have to post about it, do it the day of (or the day before) your trip.
• Ask neighboring businesses for help: Just as you can ask a neighbor to help watch your home, you can get to know fellow business owners in your area and ask them to do things like pick up mail/newspapers, and watch for any shady activity.

If you’re interested in more advice for keeping your home or business safe during summer vacations, contact A-1 Locksmith today or stop by any of our DFW-area locations.

According to a report from the U.S. Department of Justice, “rates of… household crimes tended to be higher in the summer than during other seasons of the year (when the study took place)” and “aggravated assault rates were higher during the summer than during (other seasons.)”

Let’s discuss why this happens, and what you can do about it.

Warm Weather = More Crime?

Motor vehicle thefts also are higher in the summer than other seasons (like spring), so theft in general is a summer problem. But why? Let’s take a look at a few contributing factors to the increase in thefts during the summer:

• Many families take vacations during the summer and are away from their homes
• Beach-goers often forget to lock their vehicles, or they leave the keys in the car
• Criminals in popular destinations target tourists, and people from out of town
• Increased temperatures can lead to increased aggression from thieves
• People tend to let their guard down and relax during the summer

These are just a few reasons, of which there are many, and they can be complicated. But the good news is that you can be proactive regardless of the reason for increased thefts.

How To Be Proactive

It’s a good idea to think about security all year long, but there are certain steps you can take to ensure your home is especially protected during these vulnerable few months. Here are some tips for improving the security of your home during the summer:

• Key duplication: Leave a spare key only with a trusted friend or family member.
• Security system: Install a surveillance system or video doorbell so you can check in at any time.
• Maintenance, and landscaping: Make sure your home landscaping is maintained so thieves can’t tell you’ve been away.
• Locks, and windows: Ensure all locks, and windows in your home are repaired, and in good working order
• Social media: Avoid posting online that you’re on vacation!

If you’re interested in additional security advice or products for the summer, contact us today or stop by any of our Dallas-Fort Worth locations.