Topsgrup suggests safety Tips for while on vacation

by Shrutee K/DNS

Excited to go on a vacation this summer? Don't forget to secure your home before you leave. Vacation is a time to relax and have fun. Tourists make tempting targets for thieves; often lost or distracted, weighed down with bags, carrying cameras, money and other valuables. Don't let the anticipation of a well-deserved vacation blind you to the risks of leaving your home unprotected.

TOPSGRUP being your security partner suggest some safety precautions which you want to take some basic to keep your house and belongings as safe as you can while on vacation.

Home safety while on vacation

 Do make sure all doors and windows are locked and fastened. Doors should have deadbolt locks.

 Do secure sliding glass doors by placing a metal rod or piece of plywood in the track to prevent an intruder from forcing the door open.

 Unplug your television, computer, toaster oven and other appliances to protect them from power surges. 

 Do not leave any spare keys outside the house. All burglars know the trick of keeping a spare key under the welcome mat & Don’t leave a message on your answering machine saying you are on vacation.

 Some people say to keep curtains closed while away so no one can peer into the house. Some people say to leave them open so neighbors can see if someone has broken into the house. The best advice is to keep your curtains the way you normally would have them on any other given day.

 The best way to make sure your house is safe while you're gone is to have someone you trust still living in it.

 Ask a trusted neighbor to watch your property when you are away. Do the same for them.

 In last minute before leaving give all the doors and windows a lock check before you go. It seems very obvious but many forget to lock windows which give thieves an easy way in.

Travelling safety while on vacation 

 Locking your home makes it less attractive to opportunistic burglars. If you don't make it easy, there's a better chance that when you get home, your house will be in the same condition as when you left it

 Being aware of who's around when you discuss your trip in restaurants and even at work isn't a bad idea either.

 Carry-on anything you may need or of value i.e., medication, jewellery & also know the generic names of your medications so you can replace them if they are lost or stolen.

 Make photocopies of your passports, credit cards and other ID. Leave one copy with a relative at home, and keep another copy separate from your originals.

 When you are on trip carry your purse close to your body, or wallet in an inside front pocket. Consider wearing a money pouch under your clothes.

 Pack as lightly as possible. Lots of heavy, cumbersome bags will slow you down and make you more vulnerable to getting robbed.

 Never put your home address on your luggage tags. Write your phone number instead.

 Don’t leave a portable GPS in your car when you use long-term parking at the airport, shopping mall, railway station. It’ll alert thieves that you’re not home and give them a convenient map to your house.

 Travel like a local know your surroundings and plan your route in advance. Be aware of how the locals talk and dress, and consider whether certain actions will make you stand out as a tourist.

 Avoid social media while it may be tempting to share photos on Facebook or tweet about your trip adventures, consider holding off on vacation-related posts.