Valuables Can Be Protected with Simple Security Measures

Millions of Americans will be seeking to escape sweltering summer temperatures in the coming weeks by heading to their favorite vacation destinations.

With that in mind, potential thieves will be keeping an eye out for homes that appear to be unoccupied, since these tend to be easier burglary targets.

To reduce the chances of becoming victims of burglary, homeowners have a variety of things they should consider. First, valuables should be protected under one's homeowners insurance or renter's insurance policy, and a list of these items should be kept - with photographs and receipts if possible.

When looking to thwart would-be burglars, many public safety and law enforcement entities have pointed out that it's crucial to try to keep them out of the house in the first place. This is because the longer it takes to enter a house, the less attractive of a target it becomes for thieves.

Other measures to protect one's property, such as deadbolt locks and burglar alarms, can result in discounts on one's home insurance policy. This is also the case when it comes to upgrades that improve fire safety or make a property more resistance to hurricanes.

Of course, it is also a highly useful strategy to make thieves avoid one's home in the first place. With that in mind, people should arrange to have their mail picked up, while another option may be timers that turn lights on and off at certain times to make the dwelling appear occupied.

Another common mistake that can tip off burglars is to leave behind voice mail greetings mentioning being away from home or on vacation. In the age of social networking websites, this caveat also applies increasingly to mentioning the exact date of one's vacation plans on MySpace or Facebook.

The Memphis Police Department website advises people to store lawnmowers, bicycles and other items out of sight to avoid tempting thieves, and to keep hedges trimmed to deny them a hiding place near the house.

When traveling away from home, homeowners are also generally advised to turn off computers and lock away personal financial documents, since a growing number of burglars also tend to engage in identity theft.