When you are out of the country or similarly away from your home for a long period of time, you need to make sure that your belongings are properly protected. Some people choose to keep their vehicles at auto self-storage companies to discourage car thieves, while others take steps to move certain valuable possessions out of their homes. From self-storage to help from friends, here are some things you can do to keep unwanted intruders away from your belongings while you are away.
Know Your Self-Storage Options
If you have valuables that potential thieves might find particularly enticing, the easiest way to keep them safe is to store them in a separate facility entirely. By utilizing self-storage services, you can put your valuables behind a locked door in a secure environment that is watched over by constant surveillance. Self storage companies take every step possible to prevent break-ins. You can even leave a vehicle with auto self-storage companies if you are concerned that somebody might try to steal or vandalize the automobile while you are away. When you use self-storage services, you make sure that, even if somebody knows you are away and tries to take advantage of that fact, they will wind up with nothing of value.
Don’t Advertise That You Are Away
Thieves are less likely to target a specific area if they think people are watching. As such, your property becomes safer if you don’t let people know that you are gone for a long time. Tell only those who need to know that you are leaving on a trip, and wait until you get back before posting pictures on social media. If you have automatic lights, set them to turn on and off periodically while you are away to give the illusion that somebody is home. Finally, never tell strangers the exact dates of a coming trip. You don’t have to keep everything about your upcoming travel a secret, but the less information you provide to potential thieves, the safer your belongings will be.
Have Somebody Look in on Your Home
If you leave valuables at home, it helps to have a neighbour or family member that you can trust look in on your home from time to time. They don’t have to spend a lot of time in the area—just long enough to notice if anything seems unusual or if somebody has damaged a door or window. You might want to leave this individual with a copy of your house key so they can check inside if they notice anything suspicious. Of course, the problem is taken care of if you keep your belongings in a storage facility—somebody is already watching the area 24 hours a day!
Following the tips above can help you keep your belongings safe even when you are far from home. In turn, this should allow you to enjoy your trip more. It always helps to travel with the confidence that everything will still be there when you get back.