Florida Realtors has issued a set of guidelines aimed at helping homeowners secure their properties during the summer months. These recommendations focus on maintaining the appearance of an occupied home, safeguarding personal information, and ensuring all entry points are secured.
Homeowners are advised to use timers on lights in various rooms to create the illusion that someone is home. This is particularly important as daylight hours can unexpectedly shorten or plans may change, leading to later returns.
Social media users are cautioned against sharing vacation plans online. Such posts can inadvertently inform potential burglars of an empty house. The same caution applies to phone messages.
All doors and windows should be locked even if leaving for short periods. Burglars often exploit unlocked doors, with typical break-ins taking less than five minutes.
Maintaining clear visibility of the home by trimming shrubbery is recommended. Overgrown plants can signal an unoccupied house and provide cover for intruders.
When leaving home, keys should either be taken along or left with a trusted neighbor. Common hiding spots like under welcome mats or in mailboxes should be avoided as they are well-known to burglars.
For those planning extended absences, it is suggested to have a neighbor collect mail and newspapers or arrange for their temporary cessation. Additionally, disabling garage door openers and manually locking them from inside adds another layer of security.
