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HomeSafeHome:  When you aren't home...  |
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Alee
True Blue Farmgirl
22937 Posts
Alee
Worland
Wy
USA
22937 Posts |
 Posted - May 10 2008 : 3:44:56 PM
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With the summer traveling season upon us, I thought it might be a great time to share some safety tips for keeping your Home safe while you are gone. Here is one of my favorites.
Many people know the trick to leave a lamp or two on when you are going to be gone. I gives the illusion that someone is home even if no one is. However, if you are going to be gone for any length of time, consider getting a timer. A lamp left on all night and day can be a suspect as no lights on at all. Light timers can be set to mimic your normal time schedule- say if you turn off all the lights and are in bed by 10pm, the will turn off the lights at 10. You can, with a timer in several rooms, set the lights to be turned on and off in succession to mimic someone walking through the house.
One note of caution, however. Try to place your lamps close to the window, and make sure blinds and curtains are closed so there isn't a silhouette of an empty room shown to the outside.
Also- if you have sliding windows (as opposed to the crank style) or a sliding glass door- don't forget to slip a piece of wood into the sliding space. This will prevent someone from being able to slide open your window or door from the outside. Make sure it is a snug fit as any extra space can provide just enough to pop a window or door over the wood to gain access.
Alee
Farmgirl Sister #8
www.awarmheart.com
Please come visit Nora and me on our new blog:
www.farmgirlalee.blogspot.com |
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Tammy Claxton
True Blue Farmgirl
1559 Posts
Tammy
Glen Burnie
Maryland
USA
1559 Posts |
Posted - Jul 14 2008 : 8:31:10 PM
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I have a timer for my lamp that sits near the front window. It makes me feel safer knowing that it will go on and off at certain intervals. My mom also uses one and she has done the wooden board in the sliding glass door track for years. Great tips Alee!
Crafty Bay Farmgirl Chapter
"What doesn't kill you will only make you stronger"
Farmgirl #152
http://countryintheburbs.blogspot.com/ |
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CabinCreek-Kentucky
True Blue Farmgirl
8529 Posts
Frannie
Green County
Kentucky
USA
8529 Posts |
Posted - Jul 14 2008 : 9:03:18 PM
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love livin' here in the 'hollow' .. we rarely ever lock our doors. our daughter does the 'wood in the sliding door tract' up in toledo. we do have 'candles' in all our windows that stay on 24/7 .. don't use timers here .. but have in other places we've lived across the country.
i've heard it can be useful to leave your radio or tv on to make it sound like someone is home. of course more than one lock on your door and a 'dead-bolt' can be a good idea if you are alone in the house at night.
AND a big dog with a big bark would probably be a pretty good thief-deterrent too .. AND .. an alarm system .. or at least a 'sign' that says you have one!
True Friends * Frannie
adopt a 'rag-chile'
http://sistermercysfoundlinhome.blogspot.com
treasures .. new and olde .. http://mudpiemanormercantile.blogspot.com
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kissmekate
True Blue Farmgirl
890 Posts
Kate
Delano
Minnesota
890 Posts |
Posted - Jul 15 2008 : 2:13:07 PM
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If we are gone at the lake for the weekend, or what have you, I always mention it to my neighbors to keep an eye out. If they see activity in or outside of the house, to call the cops first, then call me.
I leave certain lights on too. Including the Front light-that one is on a sensor.
Don't miss out on a blessing, just because it isn't packaged the way you expected. ~MaryJo Copeland |
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nampafarmgirl
True Blue Farmgirl
494 Posts
Kim
Nampa
ID
USA
494 Posts |
Posted - Jul 21 2008 : 07:09:16 AM
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| I have also heard that when you are staying in a motel and want to leave for dinner,or whatever, leave the TV on, or even leave the shower or sink water running, to give the illusion of someone being there. |
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katie-ell
True Blue Farmgirl
1818 Posts
Katie
Illinois
1818 Posts |
Posted - Jul 21 2008 : 10:31:41 AM
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On our street, the neighbors all look out for each other. But one neighbor always leaves the front porch lights burning when they are out of town. My husband calls those the 'Not At Home' lights! Better to have one with a sensor or to have the timers on various lights in the house.
Re: leaving water running in motel room -- I guess I'm just sensitive to water usage these days . . . seems a waste of water if you're gone an hour or more. The TV on seems a bit better, even tho it does 'waste' energy.
www.youaretoocreative.blogspot.com |
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lacisne88
True Blue Farmgirl
1181 Posts
Chelsey
Lake Stevens
Washington
USA
1181 Posts |
Posted - Jul 30 2008 : 7:09:15 PM
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Wow Alee this is great advice. Thanks so much!
Chelsey
Farmgirl Sister #283 |
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SusieQue
True Blue Farmgirl
603 Posts
Susie
Greenville
Ga
Georgia
603 Posts |
Posted - Jul 30 2008 : 7:29:40 PM
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| We have an alarm system as we are way back in the woods....my sister works for 911 and thats help since they get the call also. We also have a gate that we shut at the end of the long drive. Still, if they wanted to do something they would find a way. My house (another one that was in the city limits/subdivision) was robbed and they wipped us out about 20 years ago in the evening time! But we do try to do all we can - I will not make it easy for them like I did last time. I think back then that I had my bedroom window craked a little bit for the fresh air (I trusted everyone). We have had two barns broken into and one was just last week at our old house. I get so mad just writing about it. |
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JILLSEWSIT
Farmgirl in Training
22 Posts
JILL
RACINE
WI
USA
22 Posts |
Posted - Aug 05 2008 : 8:14:22 PM
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Hi, About keeping home safe when you're gone. We don't have a dog, but a sign on the door is good. 2 lights are timed. We tell 2 neighbors that we're gone.
A green tip for home. Most often, I use the H2O from our dehumidifier on the trees or plants. It is distilled, so it's good
for my my iron.
Bye, Jill in WI. & winter in TX. |
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katalind
True Blue Farmgirl
177 Posts
Kathy
Chapin
SC
USA
177 Posts |
Posted - May 23 2010 : 09:39:37 AM
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| Does Crime Watchers exist anymore? |
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DvilleMama
True Blue Farmgirl
159 Posts
Lyn
Small Town
MI
USA
159 Posts |
Posted - Jun 28 2010 : 9:37:37 PM
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With everybody being connected via social networking sites like FB, Twitter, etc, it's wise to NOT talk about your upcoming vacation plans. I know of somebody who just spent a week in Toronto, somebody who's currently in South America & I know of somebody else who's about to leave for Zimbabwe...all via their public posts on FB. This is just 3 friends off the top of my head. Somebody else was publically counting down the days, hours, minutes until their trip to Mexico. Hold your tongue until you get back then you can post all you want about all the fun you had. Telling the world about your upcoming trips is an invitation for trouble.
Lyn
Farmgirl Sister #1574
Mid-Michigan Farmgirl Chapter
http://simplelifeseeker.blogspot.com |
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emsmommy5
True Blue Farmgirl
1547 Posts
Angie
Buckley
WA
USA
1547 Posts |
Posted - Jun 29 2010 : 10:04:30 AM
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The last time we went on an *actual* vacation, we hired a house/dog babysitter. It was nice to know there was someone in and out of the house and keeping an eye on things. THis was beyond the 45 firefighters on our department and the police officers who drive by regularly! =) Gotta love small towns.
Do what you love, love what you do. |
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City Chick
True Blue Farmgirl
1402 Posts
Deb
Chattanooga
TN
USA
1402 Posts |
Posted - Jul 01 2010 : 05:31:42 AM
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We always have a house sitter. But many in our area (living in the city) let the police dept know - they do random drive by's and get out and check the perimeter of the house. Just to make sure everything is secure.
Be sure to stop your mail if you're going to be gone a week or more. Unless you have wonderful neighbors!  The newspaper too. Nothing screams "out of town" like papers stacking up.
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Farm Girl #790
http://www.xanga.com/My_Pondering_Place
https://twitter.com/EllieFunt
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sue5901
True Blue Farmgirl
122 Posts
Sue
Wellingborough
United Kingdom
122 Posts |
Posted - Jul 01 2010 : 1:42:09 PM
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I'm lucky in that I have really good neighbours and they come in every evening and shut the curtains and leave lights on and every morning turn the lights off and open the curtains. They will move post, collect parcels, water plants etc and even pay the window cleaner.
And most importantly -- Feed the cat!!
Dance like nobody's watching! |
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JojoNH
True Blue Farmgirl
1984 Posts
Joanna
Dunbarton
New Hampshire
USA
1984 Posts |
Posted - Jul 11 2010 : 05:49:09 AM
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Another thought, I always let the police know we will be gone, where we are going and most importantly a phone number to reach us at and the person we have left "in charge" in the event of an emergency in our absence. We also "invite" the patrol officers to sit in our driveway to fill out their shift reports, take a coffee break, help themselves to what ever is ripe in our garden etc. They swing by and check on things for us, pick what's ready for eating and we have peace of mind knowing our Home is being cared for in our absence.
Joanna #566
"Keeping Traditions Alive A Stitch At A Time"
JojoNH
http://www.etsy.com/shop/CountryCents
http://CountryCents.Blogspot.com
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MamaRhi
Farmgirl in Training
22 Posts
Rhiannon
Livermore
CA
USA
22 Posts |
Posted - Aug 17 2010 : 10:48:12 PM
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Oh, what a great idea to offer them what's fresh in the garden! I love bartering like that!
Single Mama living her off-the-grid dream life... |
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herb19355
True Blue Farmgirl
321 Posts
Debi
Danielsville,
GA
USA
321 Posts |
Posted - Apr 22 2011 : 10:49:07 AM
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Another suggestion for making your home more safe.... Instead of leaving your house key under the mat in front of the door, or under a flowerpot.... store your neighbor's house key there instead... and store your at their house. That way if someone does find your key, it won't fit any of the doors at your house.
(another good tip I like to pass along is similar ~ when packing suitcase - I always pack undies and an outfit of mine in my husbands suitcase and one of his in mine. That way if one of our cases get "lost" we at least have a clean set of clothes.)
Debi
herb19355
GA Farmgirl #2515 |
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Kirksmom71
True Blue Farmgirl
873 Posts
Mel
Dallas
Texas
USA
873 Posts |
Posted - Apr 22 2011 : 1:29:41 PM
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Amazing........those are some of the greatest ideas I have ever heard, Debi!!!!!
My best to all,
Mel
Sassy City Girl with Farmgirl Fantasies! |
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Heartbroken farmgirl
True Blue Farmgirl
604 Posts
Annette
rio vista
Ca
USA
604 Posts |
Posted - Apr 22 2011 : 8:30:23 PM
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Our front lights and porch lights are on timers. Our neighbors and we always collect the mail and newspapers for eachother while the other is gone. There is such a dead give away in a pile of newspaper in the driveway!
We also have a very vocal puppy, and loud pointer, so that helps.
The FB posting is a great warning. It's hard not to share your building excitement for a trip, but alerting all to the fact your home will be empty isn't very wise. My DH and I recently went on a cruise and my kids, parents, and grandma were all here.(my DH works away from home 7 days a week, 16-18 hours a day, so its normally just me and the kiddos=3 adults is a lot more than normally here) but when posted on my FB [completely private except to friends] my aunt mentioned I was advertising I'd be gone. So I immediately posted on FB how grateful I was to my whole family for comin to care for the house and kids.... I didn't think about it. I knew people would be here, but I was advertising an assumably empty home. Thoughtless. Glad you gals posted this!
The tears I shed then, watered the flowers I harvest now.
www.broken908.blogspot.com
http://forums.familyfriendpoems.com/broken908
"The aim of education is the knowledge not of facts but of values."-Dean William Ralph Inge |
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henlady35904
True Blue Farmgirl
295 Posts
Kim
Gadsden
Alabama
USA
295 Posts |
Posted - May 01 2011 : 2:25:59 PM
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| Another tip for staying at a hotel... I always put the do not disturb sign on the outside of the hall door every time I leave the room. |
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debtea2
True Blue Farmgirl
1853 Posts
deborah
nutley
nj
USA
1853 Posts |
Posted - May 08 2011 : 4:06:59 PM
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i have and alarm and good locks and timer lights
but feeling secure is where my neigbors come in.
one has a key and goes over just to check around
and i give them use of my pool and permission
to pick veggie in the garden..so they really
keep and eye on the house and i'm very blessed to
have such wonderful people nextdoor...
inch by inch we find our way
jersey farmgirl
#1330
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Bensgrandma
True Blue Farmgirl
227 Posts
Alexis
White Oak
PA
USA
227 Posts |
Posted - May 12 2011 : 4:18:30 PM
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I just bought (still waiting for them to arrive) a set of sensors for the lights in the house. They are supposed to be motion sensors so when something goes past them the light goes on. I got them at graveyard mall.com. I figured if there was a noise outside the dog would run through the house turning on lights!
We also have outside motion detector lights and a couple on timers for when we go away.
http://www.etsy.com/shop/HugsandStitches
http://www.etsy.com/shop/ACharmingExperience |
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HomeSafeHome: When you aren't home... |
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When you aren't home...
