With the holiday season fast approaching, many people are gleefully making out their wish-lists and coordinating travel plans with family and loved ones. While it certainly won’t be the first thing to come to mind this time of year, holiday home security is incredibly vital and often overlooked.
Holiday Home Security
In 2014, AAA projected that nearly 100 million Americans would travel for the holidays. This is the highest number since AAA data collection began in 2001. Criminals know that this time of year reaps the most reward for home invasions and burglary with the lowest risk of being caught. They are keen to pick houses where they can tell the occupants are out of town. In the spirit of the seasons, we here at U.S. Safe Room have compiled a few tips and holiday home security measures to help ensure that your family and property will remain unharmed in the instance of any yuletide malice.
- Unlit and clearly empty homes are an easy target for burglars. Use manual timers or a remote device to turn on indoor lights while you are away. This can deter would-be invaders by giving them the illusion that someone is home.
- Don’t engage in behaviors that will advertise your absence to others. Ask a neighbor to collect your mail and newspapers while you are gone and avoid posting about your travels on social media sites.
- Reinforce the doors and first-floor windows of your home. The lock strike plate on a wood doorjamb is its weakest point. Many newer homes are built using only a few small screws to secure it to the door frame. Consider replacing these items with more resilient components. A heavy-duty strike plate and a greater number of larger, 3-inch screws can make a huge difference
- Invest in a home alarm system. While a top-of-the-line, fully monitored system may be the most secure option for your home and family, there are more affordable alternatives. Many stores and websites carry individual alarm units that go off whenever the door or window is opened. While small, these units are incredibly loud and can often help to scare off anyone attempting to enter. You can also purchase home alarm yard signs and window stickers to dissuade anyone from breaking and entering. Burglars would rather pick off a home without the threat of an alarm.
Finally, it is important to always store valuables in a safe place while you are away from home. We have written here about the horrible possibilities that can occur when precious items are inadequately secured. Purchasing a safe room or bunker from us at U.S. Safe Room will guarantee that your most important possessions – including your family – will be in good hands and out of harm’s way.
The Gift of Security and Peace of Mind
You wouldn’t normally think of a bunker or safe room as the ideal holiday gift. However, is sure to be more useful and give more peace of mind than an itchy sweater. Whether you would like to purchase one for your own home or as a gift for a loved one, our safe rooms provide unparalleled security and many customization options in order to best serve your needs and your budget.
Every U.S. Safe Room is hand-welded with heavy-duty, American manufactured solid plate ¼” steel. All of our rooms feature secure multi-point locking doors, with many unique door and interior finishing options available. Our units are designed to survive severe weather and disasters. They are even versatile and durable enough to be placed outside on a concrete pad or added to any existing structure. In such an uncertain world, the security and protection of your family is one concern that cannot be diminished. The gift of a U.S. Safe Room could end up being the gift of life.
