Vacationers:

Little is more exciting than going on a much-needed getaway. Unfortunately, some vacationers will arrive home to a house that has been burglarized. According to the Insurance Information Institute, more than 2.15 million burglaries occur each year and more than 65 percent of them are residential break-ins. Before taking that well-deserved trip, AAA urges travelers to prepare their homes against burglary.

Online Tips to Protect Your Property

A common mistake travelers make today is broadcasting their travel plans and whereabouts on social media sites. Alerting the public of your absence by posting photos while on vacation is like handing potential thieves the key to your house.

• Even if you’re not “bragging” about your vacation details, social media settings can display your location online. It’s best for travelers to completely log out and wait to log back in once home or to make sure privacy settings are restricted.
• Don’t say you’re on vacation on your voice mail. In addition, make sure your family and children aren’t using an e-mail auto response noting you are out of town. Cyber crooks use mass mailings in hopes of receiving these automatic reply messages and cross-check them with online directories to determine where you live.
• Only share details and photos of your trip after returning home.

Offline Tips to Protect Your Property

Remember, a “lived-in” house is the best deterrent against burglars. Put yourself in the mind-set of a burglar; walk around your house, inside and out, to try to find the most vulnerable spots for someone to break in your house.

• Use timers on your lights, radios and televisions.
• Contact the post office and ask them to hold your mail while you’re out of town.
• If you don’t stop your mail delivery, have a neighbor or trusted friend collect it; an overflowing mailbox can tip off burglars.
• Park an extra car outside and ask a trusted family member to move it from time to time.
• Don’t leave garage door openers inside vehicles that will be parked outside the house.
• Don’t let the trash pile up.
• Keep high-priced items away from windows.
• If you’re gone for a prolonged amount of time, ask a family member or friend to maintain the house’s outside appearance. Overgrown grass or unshoveled snow are dead giveaways of an unoccupied house.

Before You Leave

• Take inventory—a video or photo—of all your high-priced possessions. This is also the perfect time to make any needed updates to your insurance coverage.
• If possible, get an alarm system.
• Don’t forget to protect yourself from identity theft while on vacation by tracking your credit and finances with a monitoring service.

Be aware that not all your valuables will be covered by homeowners insurance in the event of a burglary. There are limits on the amount of coverage you receive for valuables such as jewelry, antiques, business property and art, but you can purchase endorsements that will add extra protection. If you do become a victim of a home invasion, call 911 right away and report the crime. Once you have the police report, call your homeowners insurance agency to file a claim for property theft and damages.