6 Tips To Keep Your Garage Secure Before A Vacation

Going on vacation is exciting, and everyone is scurrying about getting everything packed and ready. There are, however, a few essential things to remember before setting out on the adventure of a lifetime.

One of these would be to secure the home from intruders and thieves that may threaten to cut the holiday short. Returning earlier than planned, especially for something like a break-in, is never anyone’s idea of having fun. Instead of worrying the entire trip, use these tips to keep the garage secure before a vacation trip:

1. Check The Functioning Of The Doors

Having a secure garage should include fully functional garage doors. Having dilapidated doors, non-functional closing mechanisms and broken locks pose a risk to the safety of items stored in the garage.

Before leaving for a well-needed rest, ensure that all the entranceways to the garage are checked. And if doors are not in good working order or if there is something that needs replacing or servicing, contact a reputable company like the one over at this website for assistance.

2. Install Lighting Around The Property

Brightly lit areas are an excellent deterrent for criminals. Installing lighting that could light up around the garage at night would be a good investment. A day-night switch can be installed or connected to a timer switch with the lights.

The switches are necessary to save on electricity costs and add a bonus safety feature. Intruders would easily spot a house with lights shining all day and no movement around the house. These factors make the home an easy target, notifying potential criminals that no one is around to stop them. Thus, installing lighting will hesitate intruders from entering your property since they will become visible to your neighbors or other people that may come and go near your place.

3. Connect An Alarm System

Alarm systems can be used stand-alone or be connected to a security company to monitor. Either way, these systems tend to scare intruders away as they may alert the whole neighborhood to their presence.

Sensors working with motion detection could be used inside the garage, and installing contact points on the doors and windows adds extra peace of mind. Some camera systems work with Wi-Fi and can be monitored remotely using a smartphone, making it perfect for travelers to watch their homes and garages from that perfect holiday destination.

4. Inform The Neighbors

Neighbors make great watchmen, especially if the lady next door already watches every move from her kitchen. Notifying them that there will be no one at home makes them aware that they may have to keep an extra eye out.

Because neighbors are right next door or across the street, they would be able to react when trouble arises quickly. Leave contact numbers with them and ask them to notify you of anything looking out of place on the property. Most neighbors would happily oblige if you have a good relationship with them. So, it’s good to treat your neighbors as your closest friend nearby.

5. Store Valuable Items Out Of Sight

Criminals are drawn to items that they would be able to sell quickly and for a large amount of money. For this reason, valuables should be kept in a place where they are not in full view. Prying eyes on the prowl would always look around for the best options, so don’t give them a reason to target the garage.

If it is not possible to hide valuables, ensure that all windows are covered and securely closed. Items stored neatly would look better and reduce the risk of being taken.

6. Ask A Friend To Drop By

Finding a house sitter may seem overkill, but having a constant presence at home is safer. Friends and family could feed the pets, water the plants, check the property for any breaches and take care of the garage.

Regular visits from them should be scheduled for different times of the day so criminals cannot monitor their schedule. The garage will remain safe and protected with unannounced monitoring until the vacationers return. For emergencies, ensure that the person has contact details for the security company, another reliable contact that can assist, and the local police service.

Locking It In

Next time the opportunity to go on vacation pops up, start planning the security measures of the garage along with the trip. The safety of the home should be just as high on the priority list as the family’s safety while travelling. Putting a few measures in place could leave the family free to enjoy their trip instead of stressing about their prized possessions in the garage.

They say home is where the heart is, but vacation does the soul some good. Caught between those two truths would be much better than being caught by criminals without the necessary security for the garage.