When leaving their home, home security experts never do these 9 things.Experts

There are things you can (or can’t) do when you leave your home that could jeopardize its safety, whether you’re going on a long trip or just working all day.

According to Gene Petrino, retired SWAT commander and co-founder of Survival Response LLC, “[certain] actions, or lack thereof, can significantly increase the risk of a burglary.” The retired commander made this statement to HuffPost. “You can reclaim control and better protect your home against illegal entry and potential theft by addressing these vulnerabilities.”

We spoke to home security professionals about what they do and don’t do to protect their own homes while they’re away, from keeping your keys under the front door mat to sharing real-time location updates on social media.

home security experts never do these 9 things.

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1. Posting your real-time location on social media

According to Rebecca Edwards, security expert at SafeWise, “I would never post that I’m on vacation, a night out, going to a Taylor Swift concert, etc.” “Avoid revealing your every move to the public.”

She came up with the movie “Bling Ring,” in which teenagers break into the homes of celebrities who post on social media that they’re going to an awards show or on vacation, knowing the property will be empty.

Batten Safe’s Kirk McDowell, a home security specialist, suggests posting your vacation photos when you get home instead of posting them in real time.

According to him, social media can be used for personal communication with friends while traveling out of town. “However, I’m not really going to announce that you’re leaving.”

2. Forgetting to lock windows and doors and turn on the alarm system

“The frequency of these acts and the number of burglaries that occur is staggering, because the intruder only has to enter through the front door,” Edwards said.

While it may seem obvious to double-check that your front door is locked and secure, Petrino says it’s just as important to protect entrances we don’t think about, including second-story or basement windows.

“Open or unlocked windows can be easily accessed, giving intruders a quiet and stealthy way into your home, especially if they’re hidden from view from the street,” he said.

Make sure your security system is armed before leaving your home, if you have one. Moreover, if you install touch sensors on your windows, you can easily confirm whether they are open or not.

3. Taking the same route every time you leave home

According to Petrino, “If you have a regular schedule, you make it easier for vigilant burglars to plan a break-in by knowing when you won’t be home.”

To prevent any intruders from understanding his daily routine, he tries to vary the routes and times when traveling before and after going home.

4. Leaving tools and ladders out

According to Edwards, leaving ladders or equipment out in the open can attract burglars. In addition to being tempted to take expensive items, criminals can use the same tools to break into your home.

According to McDowell, someone could use a ladder to enter through an upstairs entrance because people frequently fail to secure their second-story windows. If you keep ladders outside your home, make sure they are stored securely and out of reach.

5. Keeping the porch light onduring the day

According to Edwards, “If the porch light isn’t normally on day and night, it’s a sign that the house is probably vacant.”

Alternatively, you can set your lights on a timer to pretend someone is home. McDowell specifically like Z-Wave or Wi-Fi enabled systems that let you control your lights remotely. What’s more, you can program lights to turn on and off in response to specific “events.”

“Somebody walks up to the front door and rings the doorbell … five seconds later a light comes on inside the home,” he said, noting an example of how you could set things to happen.

6. Letting mail and packages pile up

“I never leave my house unattended, like an overfull mailbox,” Petrino said.

When he’s out of town, McDowell said he always informs the post office to stop delivering his mail. Make a plan for someone to tidy up any stray papers or documents that end up on your doorstep. Additionally, Edwards emphasized the need to pause subscription services such as food boxes and newsletters.

7. Neglecting lawn care and snow removal

If there is snow on your driveway or the lawn hasn’t been trimmed in a while, the house may be empty.

According to Petrino, “unavailable property is a more attractive target because it allows thieves to spend time undetected and reduces the risk of conflict.”

Hire someone or ask a friend to help rake leaves, shovel snow, mow the lawn, and water plants.

8. ‘Hiding’ a key under the mat or flowerpot

“Thieves know these specific hiding places,” Petrino claimed. “If an intruder finds a spare key, they can quickly enter your home without the use of force, making it less likely that your neighbors will notice something is amiss.”

Edwards suggests using a smart lock that requires a code or giving your spare key to a friend or neighbor. Because you don’t have to worry about losing your house key and it can be replaced and expired, smart locks are very secure.

9. Leaving your car parked in the same visible spot

“To give the impression that I’m still coming and going, I’ll ask a neighbor, friend or family member to use my car if it’s parked on the street or in front of my house,” Edwards said.

To give the idea that someone is home, McDowell informs his neighbors that they are welcome to park in his driveway while he is away and parks his car in the garage.

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