Safe in 60: Best defense against home burglaries

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah — Summer is a popular time to travel, its also the time when home burglaries peak.

According to the FBI, an average loss on a home break in is $2,361. Not only is that expensive at the time of the initial burglary, the modern burglar may also be looking to steal your identity, which could cost additional money and valuable time for years.

Here are some steps to help lower your risk of being burglarized while you are out on vacation.

1. Lock your home up properly. Use dead bolts and lock all windows – this is your first line of defense. 35% of home burglaries are non-forced entry. This means the home was not secured.
2. Don’t forget to also lock the door from your garage to your house and any porch screens.
3. Don’t leave hidden keys around. Most burglars know the popular hiding places and can find a hidden key if they look hard enough.
4. Install a security system – many burglars will move on to another home if they see there is a security system installed.
5. Have a solid wood front door. Hollow core doors are easy to kick in.
6. Never post on social media that you are on vacation- wait until you come home to share your memories.
7. Ask a trusted neighbor to keep an eye on your home and watch for any suspicious activity.
8. Have a neighbor park their car in your driveway.
9. Consider having a trusted friend or family member to stay in your house while you are gone.
10. If you are gone for an extended period of time, stop mail delivery or have someone grab the mail.
11. Arrange for someone to mow the lawn while you are away.
12. Always make it look like someone is in the home by setting lights on timers.
13. Invest in a camera system you can view from your phone. They are becoming less expensive and more sophisticated.

By taking just a few quick steps to properly secure your home, you will remove any unnecessary stress after your much-needed vacation.