Tag: holidays

Tips for Home Safety While You’re On Vacation

By Pop-A-Lock | | No Comments

Tips for Home Safety While You’re On Vacation

 

You’ve got your bags packed and the kids in the car. The vacation of your dreams is about to begin. But you need to be sure you have properly secured your home before you head out for the holidays or you may return to a surprise of a broken-in home.

Secure All Windows & Doors

Locking up your home will keep most potential robbers from targeting it. Be sure to lock all windows and doors before leaving for vacation. If you have a sliding glass door, place a pole in the track, which will prevent the door from being forced open. Also, disable your automatic garage door opener just in case someone has its signal decoded.

Temporarily Hold the Mail & Newspaper

A few days before leaving, place a hold on your postal mail and any newspaper and magazine subscriptions. Many people just let their mail pile up while they’re away, which makes vacant houses easy for burglars to recognize. In the event that you would rather not interrupt your services, ask a fellow neighbor to pick up your mail and newspapers every day.

Set up Timers to Turn Lights on

A way to give the impression that there are people living in your home is to set up timers on the lights throughout your house. Have timers set to turn your lights on and off when you normally would each morning and evening.

Turn on a Radio for Noise

People rarely live in perfectly quiet homes 24 hours a day, so why should you leave your home devoid of noise when you vacation? Simply leave a radio on or set one up on a timer, like with your lights, to give the impression that you really have not left.

Ask a Friend or the Police to Monitor Your Home 

On the off chance that a criminal notices somebody keeping an eye out for your home, then he or she probably won’t target your house. In a few urban areas, you can request that the police drive by your home while you are traveling. Obviously, you can simply have your neighbor monitor your home if the police are not an option.

You could likewise give your assets to a trusted neighbor to watch. In case you’re going out, give your neighbor the keys. That way, in the event that you are robbed, they won’t able to take your car. Or your neighbor could move your car to encourage the illusion that someone is still occupying your house.

Alert Your Home Security System Company

Monitored home security systems can ensure safety of your home while you’re away. By alerting your vendor that you will not be home, the security company can alert the police as soon as they notice an irregularity, instead of trying to call you first. Those few seconds can make a big difference when someone has broken into your home.

For help with your home security, please call Pop-A-Lock Jacksonville at 904-246-4590.

More Holiday Shopping Tips

By Pop-A-Lock | | No Comments

If you still need to do some holiday shopping, here are a  few more tips to keep in mind from the Jackson Sun. These include:

Tips to remember while shopping during the holidays

•Shop during daylight hours whenever possible. If you must shop at night, go with a friend or family member.

•Dress casually and comfortably, and avoid wearing expensive jewelry.

•Only carry your driver’s license or identification along with necessary cash, checks or a credit card you expect to use.

•Keep cash in your front pocket.

•Use Bluetooth headsets.

 

In parking lots

•Report suspicious people loitering in parking lots and around entrances.

•Remember where you parked your car. Being unable to locate your car can cause you undue confusion and stress that may present you as a better target to a criminal.

•Have your keys in hand when approaching your vehicle.

•Check in and around the car before getting in.

•Be prepared to use emergency button on your key fob.

•After dark, park in well-lit areas.

•Plan ahead. If your shopping is going to continue until after dark, park in an area that will be well lit.

•If you enter a mall through a store, know when that store closes and exit before it locks up to prevent a long, exposed walk to get back to your vehicle.

 

In stores

•Remain vigilant

•Don’t leave purses unattended in shopping carts or wear them slung to the back. Don’t leave children unattended, either

•Do not buy more than you can carry. Plan ahead by taking a friend with you or ask a store employee to help you carry your packages to the car.

 

With children

•If you are shopping with children, make a plan in case you are separated from each other. Select a central meeting place.

•Teach them how to recognize mall and store personnel, security employees, and police officers if they need help.

•Notify store employees immediately of a missing child. Most stores have a procedure in place to secure exits and search for the missing child.

 

To prevent identity theft

•Keep your card in sight.

•Notify the credit card issuer immediately if your credit card is lost, stolen or misused. This is especially true for debit cards, which draw directly from your account.

•Report theft to police, and contact credit-reporting services like Equifax, Experian or Transunion to put a fraud alert on your account.

•Keep a record of all of your credit card numbers and company contact numbers in a safe place at home.