Check every door lock and window latch. Set timers on interior lights. Stop mail and packages. Don't announce the trip on social media. Ask a neighbor to watch the house. Consider a security camera. And if you haven't rekeyed since you moved in, do it before you leave.
Why Does a Locksmith Care About Vacation Security?
Because we see what goes wrong. We get calls from homeowners who come back to find their door kicked in, their sliding glass door shattered, or their garage rifled through. According to the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting data, burglary rates spike during summer vacation months and the December holiday season. Empty houses are targets.
Most of what you need to do costs nothing. The rest costs very little. Here's the checklist we give our customers before they head to the airport.
The 12-Point Vacation Security Checklist
1. Test Every Door Lock
Walk through the house and physically test every exterior door lock. Front door, back door, side door, garage entry door. Make sure each deadbolt throws fully and each door latches when closed. A lock that "mostly works" might not hold.
2. Check Every Window Latch
Ground-floor windows especially. According to the National Crime Prevention Council, 23% of burglars enter through windows. Make sure every window latch engages. Add secondary window locks ($15-$25 each) on ground-floor windows if you don't have them.
3. Secure the Sliding Glass Door
Put a security bar (charlie bar) in the track. Even if your sliding door lock works, the bar adds a second layer. A determined burglar can pop most sliding door locks with a screwdriver. The bar prevents the door from sliding even if the lock is defeated.
4. Lock the Garage Door
Most people rely on the automatic opener. But the emergency release cord can be tripped from outside with a coat hanger through the top seal. A manual garage door lock (T-handle or slide bolt) prevents the door from being lifted at all.
5. Set Timers on Interior Lights
A dark house at 9 PM screams "nobody home." Put 2-3 interior lights on timers that turn on at dusk and off at 10-11 PM. Smart plugs work well for this and cost $10-$15 each. Vary the rooms to simulate actual living patterns.
6. Stop Mail and Package Deliveries
A mailbox stuffed with mail or packages piling up on the porch are clear signals that nobody's home. Put a hold on USPS mail at usps.com. Pause Amazon deliveries. Have a neighbor grab anything that shows up.
7. Don't Post About Your Trip Until You're Back
That Instagram story from the airport tells everyone you know (and everyone their algorithm shows it to) that your house is empty. Post the vacation photos after you get home.
8. Ask a Trusted Neighbor to Watch
Someone who can pick up unexpected packages, check for anything unusual, and make the house look lived-in. Give them a key or the code to your keypad lock.
9. Consider a Visible Security Camera
A Ring or Arlo doorbell camera costs $100-$200 and acts as a visible deterrent. According to a University of North Carolina study, 83% of convicted burglars said they would try to determine if a home had a security system before attempting a break-in. A visible camera makes them move on to an easier target.
10. Don't Hide a Key Outside
Under the mat, in a fake rock, above the door frame. Burglars know all the spots. If you need backup access, use a keypad lock with a temporary code for your house sitter, or give a physical key to a trusted neighbor.
11. Rekey If You Haven't Since Moving In
If you haven't rekeyed your locks since you bought the house, do it before vacation. You don't know who has copies of your keys. The $260 for a 4-lock rekey is cheap insurance.
12. Unplug the Garage Door Opener
If you locked the manual garage lock (step 4), unplug the electric opener. This prevents someone from using a universal remote to try your opener frequency. Older openers with fixed codes are especially vulnerable.