On vacation? Leave your home safe! If you are going away for a few days or a few weeks, leave your home secure. What can you do to minimize the chances of a home burglary during your absence?

• Turn off your doorbell so a potential burglar cannot be sure if occupants are home.
• Health that your home looks lived-in: use timers for one or more lights or leave some cups and plates on the kitchen counter or dining table, for example.
• Health for good outdoor lighting at the front and back of your home (for example, with a twilight switch).
• Have your mailbox emptied regularly and have mail deposited in places not visible from the outside.
• Do not place valuables in plain sight, such as LCD and plasma screens, laptops and computers.
• Do not close curtains or remove plants in front of windows.
• Health for good locks and close all windows and doors, even the small windows or pivot windows, burglars can take advantage of this.
• Let your neighbors know you will be away and where you can be reached. Also ask your neighbors to keep an eye out during your absence.
• Clear out ladders, trash containers and other climbing equipment or put them inside.
• Do not leave money, valuable papers and/or jewelry at home. Keep them in the safe at the bank, for example.
• Do not lock interior doors and cabinet doors/drawers. You will prevent additional damage if they are broken into during a burglary.
• Copy your personal files on the computer to a usb stick, CD, DVD or cloud. This will prevent you from losing your files if your computer is stolen.

Notable tips:

• Don't pick up your caravan or trailer until the last minute. This will prevent burglars from seeing that you are going on vacation.
• Ask if a local resident will park the car in your driveway.
• Do not tell on social media when you are going on vacation or what it is like on vacation. Also remember to instruct your (adolescent) children about this.
• Turn off your location notification (GPS). Note that several apps, such as Snapchat, also feature location notification.
• Take photos of your valuables or write down the numbers. Also record serial and frame numbers of your bicycles.
• Have your home phone forwarded to your cell phone. Turn off your voicemail.
• Ask a family member to stay in your home for a few days.
• Don't bring your cat or dog to a boarding facility; arrange for babysitting at home.
• Gather all your prized possessions such as jewelry and leave them with family members, for example.
• Don't pick up your caravan or trailer until the last minute. This will prevent burglars from seeing that you are going on vacation.

Dark houses are attractive

Homes that are dark make an uninhabited impression. This makes your home more attractive to burglars. What can you do to minimize the chances of your home being burglarized when you are not home at night?

• Health that your house makes an inhabited impression (even at dusk): leave lights on in rooms, which are not directly visible from outside, with a timer switch, for example.
• Health for good outdoor lighting at the front and back of your home with such things as a twilight switch or motion sensor.
• When you are away, ask your neighbors to keep an extra eye on your home.

Suspicious situation: call 911!

The police ask you to call 911 immediately if you see suspicious persons in your neighbor's yard, persons peeping into houses or cars, or if glass is broken. This increases the chances of catching the perpetrator(s) of a burglary.
In these types of situations, also pay attention to the description of the suspicious persons, special brands of clothing and any means of transportation (make, type, color and license plate number). This information is very important in determining the identity of the suspects and in tracking them down.
By being alert and vigilant, you can contribute to safety in your neighborhood.
Non-urgent matters can be reported via the general number 0900-8844 or Report Crime anonymously 0800-7000.

Did you know...

• 3 out of 5 people close their windows and doors when they go upstairs for a moment?
• 53% think about where they put their laptop/tablet or smartphone in the home?
• 90% of burglaries are so-called "occasional burglaries"?
• A burglar takes an average of 30 seconds to get in?
• 2 out of 3 discuss their vacation plans with neighbors?