Florida Realtors: Crime Doesn't Take a Vacation

ORLANDO, Florida -- Many families across Florida and the nation will spend the Fourth of July holiday away from home, basking on the state's beautiful beaches, traveling to see relatives or maybe just visiting friends for a backyard barbecue. 

To fully enjoy those activities and other summertime pursuits spent away from home, Florida Realtors®  suggests that homeowners take precautions to safeguard their residences when they're not around. Crime rates across the country often start to peak as temperatures rise during warm weather months – the same time that many families leave their homes unoccupied and unprotected.

"A home is the place where people raise their families, make memories of their lives and build on their dreams for the future – and it's also the biggest financial investment that most people will make in their lifetimes," says Florida Realtors®  2012 President Summer J. Greene, regional manager of Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Florida 1st in Fort Lauderdale. "It just makes sense to take steps to protect something so priceless."

Homeowners can take these simple precautions to make their homes less of a target for criminals:

No "Home Alone": Before leaving your home during the day, make it look as if someone is still at home by using timers on lights in various rooms. Even though daylight hours are longer during the summer, it may still get dark faster than you expect or you may return home later than anticipated, and taking this step ensures that your home appears occupied at all times. 

No Open Door Policy: Ensure that all doors leading to the home and garage are locked, even when leaving for short periods of time. The typical burglary takes less than five minutes, and unlocked doors, combined with an empty home, put out the "welcome mat" for crime.

Someone to Watch Over Me: Be landscape smart. Shrubbery and other plants can grow very rapidly during the warm, wet summer months. Keep them trimmed so neighbors can easily see your home. Also, an unkempt yard could be viewed as a sign of an empty home to a burglar.

A Key Reminder: When leaving home, take your house keys along or leave a spare set with a trusted neighbor. Never leave a key under a welcome mat, in a mailbox or other hiding spots – most burglars know where to look.

Crime Doesn't Take a Vacation: If you're planning to be away from home for more than a day or two, ask a neighbor to park a car in your driveway and pick up your mail and newspapers – or make arrangements to cancel the paper and hold the mail. Disable your garage door opener and manually lock it from the inside, and don't forget to check that the door leading from the garage to the home is locked, too.