It’s never a good thing while traveling to get a call from your local police.
That is the call I got last night. The police asking if I’d please return their call. And yes, it meant what I am sure many of you are guessing. My house had been broken into.
I am glad to share that this ended in the best possible way. Hmmm … wonder if I should be insulted by the fact that the burglars didn’t think I had anything worth stealing??? No, in all seriousness I was lucky. The camera equipment and laptops were with me, the valuables I’d hidden and neither myself or my friend checking up on my place walked into a dangerous situation or one that would have made us feel vulnerable.
So what happened? I live in side-by-side townhouses and my direct neighbours were away and let their papers pile up. Due to a wind storm, they all blew in front of my place, making the place look abandoned. So the thieves scaled a fence, and removed the sliding glass door to my office. The only reason anyone knew I’d been broken into, was thanks to the thieves leaving by the front door and leaving it wide open. Other neighbours knowing I was away, kindly called the police, and either the police or the buildings caretaker fixed the sliding glass door. I was lucky. I live in a generally save neighbourhood and have good neighbours. I owe several people a thank you on my return.
I learnt several things from this though, that I’d like to pass on so other travelers don’t get a similar phone call.
First, it would appear that the burglars were only interested in things of value that they could stick in their pockets. They rivaled through any purses in the house, but focused their main attentions on two rooms, the two bedrooms, looking for jewelry. What they rivaled through was my bedside table, dresser drawers and under my mattress. So if you think your money is safer under your mattress than in a bank, it’s not. It’s the first place robbers will look, followed by your underwear drawer.
So here is my list of tips when leaving home for an extended period of time:
- Cancel the paper.
- Post a note on the door saying, “No papers or flyers please.”
- Put extra security measures like pieces of wood …etc. on your sliding glass doors. (Mine was double bolted on the side and at the bottom and that wasn’t enough.)
- Set-up timers for lights and music in your house. Get whomever is looking in on your place to occasionally change these.
- Don’t leave anything expensive and portable lying about.
- Don’t leave extra keys on the hallway table.
- Lock expensive jewelry away in a safe or safety deposit box.
Darryl Musick
All good tips but I don’t know about leaving the note on your door, I would think that would also advertise that you’re not home.
Have a trusted neighbor keep the driveway and porch clear of fliers and a lookout for anybody at your house.
If there’s someone in your family you trust, invite them to live in your house while you’re gone.
Stop the mail.
Set a radio on high enough volume on a talk station to make it seem like people are talking inside.
Motion sensor lights can also help.
Emme Rogers
Thanks Darryl! And thanks for these other tips. They are fantastic!
I leave the ‘No, Flyers and Papers Sign’ up always. Many people have such signs on their doors all the time, so it is not a signal that you are away. Without it, the papers keep on coming, even if you’ve cancelled them.
Cathy Sweeney
Glad everything worked out OK in your case. Good tips all around — never thought about the extra keys on the hall table. I’ll be hiding those for next trip. Thanks.
Emme Rogers
Neither did I. Mine were lying out ripe for the taking.
Glad my house was such a bust for them that they didn’t take them.
Jan Ross
All our traveling is the reason we invested in a security system a few years ago. We also stop our papers and mail and have our son stay at our house some. I think the signs saying we have a security system are a real deterrent to the thieves. I like to think so anyway!
Emme Rogers
I’m sure it is a deterrent Jan. I read somewhere that the 3 biggest deterrent to a burglary are dogs, motion sensitive lights and an alarm. None of which I had.
Debbie Beardsley @ European Travelista
Guess I need to stop being frustrated at my husband for taking so long setting up all those timers 🙂 Oh that would have been one awful phone call. Extra precautions are a good thing and it is always good to be reminded of their need from time to time. I’m just sorry it had to be at your expense! Thanks for sharing.
Emme Rogers
Yep Debbie, leave him to his extra pre-cautions. Better safe than sorry. It was my extra pre-cautions, however limited that kept this from being much worse.
Alyzee Lakhani
Oh my God! I’m so glad everything’s okay. Thanks for the tips. I will definitely refer to them next time I go away. Scary.
Emme Rogers
Tell me about it. Certainly never dull Alyzee.
jenjenk
yikes! that’s a phone call I’d dread getting! but good thing your neighbors care enough to check in on it.
Emme Rogers
That it is Jen. I need to get them some flowers or bake for them when I get home.
adventureswithben
Ok, so I’m not leaving anything in my underwear drawer anymore. Thanks for the tip. Sorry about the house.
Emme Rogers
What did you leave in your underwear drawer before Ben? (she asks, oh so innocently)
eileeen ludwig
Very glad this worked out good for you
Emme Rogers
So am I. Thanks Eileen!
Christy @ Ordinary Traveler
Omg.. so scary! I’m glad they didn’t find anything of value. I’m a little obsessive about finding hiding places when I leave my house. Thankfully I have neighbors who look after our place and a guard cat. 🙂
Emme Rogers
Yes, part of the problem, the guard cat was on the road with me.
I think it would have been much scarier if I’d been there.
Alison
Sorry to hear this happened to you, glad nothing was stolen. But must have been horrible to know burglars had been in your home. It’s scary how these criminals are accustomed to looking for small clues signifiying somebody is away.
Emme Rogers
I think it would have been a whole lot worse for that reason Alison, had I been home.
monette | fliptravels
oh my, underwear drawer… now that’s invasive!
Emme Rogers
I know! The good underwear wasn’t even there to make me look good.