As the summer vacation season continues in full swing, intruders continue on the prowl for poorly guarded homes. There are many ways to present a less tempting site for burglars, in addition to purchasing a reliable home security system. Follow these tips and you won’t waste your vacation worrying about the home you left behind.

• Set your home up on a timed lighting system. Homes that stay dark all day are the most tempting targets for prospective robbers. In most cases, they won’t stick around long enough to see if anyone’s actually there.
• Stop all deliveries to your home. If newspapers or mail starts to build up at your house, prowlers will quickly realize that you’re out of the area. Better to miss a week’s worth of news than a lifetime of belongings.
• Give a key to a relative or a neighbor. This person will serve as the “ringer” while you are away. Besides picking up any mail that hasn’t been cancelled, have them open the curtains and park your car in the driveway occasionally. This will provide a convincing illusion of a lived-in house.
• Turn breakers off and disconnect appliances. Disconnect anything other than the security system, heating system, and outdoor lighting. Breakers and appliances left alone are electrical hazards that will either damage your home or, at the least, give away the fact that no one’s there to check on them.
• Don’t change your answering machine message, Facebook, or Twitter. Always leave your regular phone message on, but turn off the ringer so unanswered calls aren’t given away. If you have a public Facebook or Twitter, don’t alert the world that you’re out of the houseeveryone who needs to know will, and nobody else needs to find out.