Secure your home against thieves before going on holiday

Talk about adding maddening insult to emotional injury. A day after a colleague had to put down his beloved German shepherd, his family home was broken into and ransacked. The front door was jimmied open, and every drawer in the home was pulled out, the contents tossed all over the floors.

The thief - or thieves - made off with a laptop computer, iPod, some cash and all his wife's jewelry. The police, who likely won't spend much time searching for the stolen goods, surmise the perpetrators were drug users seeking items they can easily sell on the street for pennies on the dollar.

My colleague said his wife remains upset and fearful. He feels violated, is very angry, and would dearly love to inflict some serious pain on those who brazenly entered his family's sanctuary.

But it's the inconvenience that disturbs him the most. He now has to find time to contend with the aftermath. He must continue to comfort his wife, then deal with insurance, security and repair issues.

And police say there's a likelihood the thieves might return in a month or so to steal the replacement items.

My colleague's experience got me thinking. If no one is home during the workday, or you plan to travel this summer, you can avoid becoming a victim by taking simple actions to secure your home.

A house sitter would be ideal, but if one can't be arranged, here are some tips:

Install a monitored security system. With today's advanced technology, there are many options.

Lock and bolt all doors and windows. Sliding doors require special devices to make them secure, such as a dowel or rod inserted through a hole drilled in the sliding door frame and projecting into the fixed frame. Commercial locks and window grilles are also available.

Treat the inside door from the garage into the house like an outside door. Lock and bolt it.

Leave something in plain view outside to give the appearance of family activity - gardening tools, toys, or water hose can all send a message someone is home. Buy a pair or two of size-18 men's shoes at a thrift store, then leave them outside the entrance door. There's nothing like the image of an Incredible Hulk to make a wouldbe intruder think twice about fooling with your home.

Put a radio, television, and interior and exterior lights on timers set according to your normal schedule. Leave some draperies and blinds open as well.

Stop your mail and newspaper deliveries. Ask a neighbour to remove the free regional newspapers and flyers from the front of your house. They don't take long to accumulate.

Get a family member or trusted neighbour to mow your lawn, move your vehicle occasionally and place a bag of their household trash in front of your home on collection day.

A home safe or safety-deposit box are great options for storing valuables, including jewelry and important home-and family-related documents.

Make sure shrubs and trees that cover windows and doors are trimmed so a burglar cannot use them as cover to gain access to your home.

Be certain tools, ladders and other objects that could be used to break into your home are locked up.

Don't hide keys under doormats or planters, or in a fake rock. Crooks check those places first.

No one expects to have their belongings stolen, so would you be able to remember every detail about your possessions? An up-to-date home inventory can help to determine exactly what items were stolen, and their value. Such an inventory would also be beneficial following a fire or other disaster.

Go through each room and list all contents. Be sure to include a description of all items, including rugs, furniture, books and lamps. Or use a voice recorder, then transcribe the details later. Back up your written inventory with photos or video. Store the inventory in a secure place outside the home.

I will be taking a one-month respite from writing this column. There are many projects to tackle in and around our home. I look forward to sharing my thoughts with you again in August. Meanwhile, have a safe, enjoyable summer.

Peter Simpson is the president and chief executive officer of the Greater Vancouver Home Builders' Association. Email peter@gvhba.org
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