Does Your Home Scream "Burgle Me?", 5 signs that it may:

With summer vacation in full swing and the heat index climbing higher, it's no wonder we take the family and leave town for a week or two.

But just because you are on vacation doesn't mean the burglars are too. On average, it takes a thief about 60 seconds to break into your home and another 10 minutes to clean you out, so you want to make certain that you aren't advertising your empty house to the criminal elements in town.

Here is a short list of things to avoid to protect your home and its contents:

1. Valuables that are clearly visible
The fix: Clear windows of valuables and make sure that expensive electronics aren't displayed prominently in front of windows. A burglar's decision to break-in is significantly swayed by what they can see in and around your home. Close the window coverings, put away the expensive stuff and put the vehicles inside the garage when you are away.

2. Piled up newspapers, door hangers and flyers
The fix: Take a moment to call and have your newspaper paused during your trip. In addition, keep the front entry clear of promotional mail. Have a neighbor r friend stop by and pick up the flyers. "Criminals will pose as salespeople and stick business cards or flyers in between the door and the door frame. They then return to the area 48 hours later. If those cards or flyers are still there, that's a good indication that the owner is gone", explains Sarah Dodson of Home Zada.

3. Absence of a security system
The fix: I'm not saying that you need to run out and get yourself a home security system, but it would be nice. Nowadays we have options. For the immediate future, you could just get an app that helps you monitor your home by alerting via your mobile that a door has been opened and detects movement in your home.

4. Obvious hiding places for that spare key
The fix: I have a spare key that my dad buried in the front yard. I still cannot find it. I do not recommend burying the spare, but instead, give the spare to a neighbor or family member who is watching the house. That is much better than leaving it under the doormat or a potted plant.
5. A dark home is a vacant home
The fix: Many of us turn out all of the lights before we go to bed, however, no lights to a burglar means nobody is home. Invest in a few timers and have them set at different times around the house. I usually recommend timers be set for times similar to your usual evening routine with one on the television that comes on and goes off when you would typically be watching TV. Also purchase dusk-till-dawn light fixtures for those outside lights. These turn on at sundown and go off at sunrise.


One thread that runs through all these various red flags is that building a network to protect your home is one of the best options to ensure security. That network can be based on flesh-and-blood neighbors or it can be a hardwired system — ideally, it's a bit of both.

Burglars work fast when it comes to break-ins, but you can get your household out ahead of them by putting these strategies into place before you head out.