Not surprisingly, this tells us that Americans love to travel. What the numbers do not tell us is something else we already know: Summer is the time to travel. If you are planning a summer vacation away from home this year, we hope you will enjoy yourself and feel the peace of mind that comes from a home that is monitored while you’re away.
We encourage summer vacationers to monitor their homes in three ways: electronically, individually and community-wide.
Electronic Monitoring
We are in the home security business because we believe in the power of monitored home security as a crime-fighting tool. Monitored home security acts as a deterrent, significantly reducing your risks of being a crime victim while you are away. The strength of our service is the 24-hour remote monitoring that ensures we are keeping an eye on your property.
Today’s technology makes monitored home security even more powerful through the use of home automation and remote security system administration. We can install a system that lets you control your security from anywhere, including monitoring video cameras remotely. Home automation lets you control lighting, appliances and door locks remotely as well. Monitored home security and home automation combine to make your home a much safer place.
Individual Monitoring
As good as a home security system is, it’s not 100 percent foolproof. It’s always a good idea to enlist the help of a friend or relative who can regularly stop by and check your home while you are away. Stopping by every day is the most optimal scenario; at least every other day should be the minimum.
Individual monitoring can include additional measures such as moving cars around, opening and closing blinds, putting trash to the curb, and doing other things that give the appearance that someone is home. In the absence of a friend or relative to individually monitor your home, be sure to put a hold on your mail and your newspaper. There is no need to broadcast to criminals that you are away by allowing mail and newspapers to stack up.
Some folks prefer to have a friend or family member come stay in their homes while they are away. This is even better. The safest home is an occupied home.
Community-Wide Monitoring
We are big proponents of community-wide monitoring in local neighborhoods. When neighbors band together with a commitment to watch one another’s properties, things are made safer by sheer numbers. We would encourage you to get together with your neighbors to discuss organizing – either loosely or in affiliation with a Neighborhood Watch program.
When your neighborhood is organized, your neighbors will keep an eye on your property while you are away on vacation. You’ll do the same for them when they go away. Together, the entire neighborhood keeps an eye open for any suspicious behavior that could indicate criminals are sniffing around. If those criminals know neighbors are watching, they are more likely to move on.
Monitoring your home while you are on vacation is all about making sure as many people as possible are watching your house. Electronic monitoring allows a company such as Monitronics to use the latest technology to do just that. Combining our services with friends, family, and your neighbors makes your home safe so you can enjoy your vacation.
Sources:
https://www.ustravel.org/sites/default/files/page/2013/08/US_Travel_AnswerSheet.pdf