The Best Ways To Secure Your Home When You’re Camping

Going on a family camping trip and everything going to plan is like a dream, right? The last thing you want is for your dream to turn into a nightmare when you return because your home security was compromised. There’s nothing more heart dropping than pulling your 4WD into the driveway and see your front door ajar...

It can seem surreal at the time because you clearly remember locking the door on your way out. “It can’t be”, you tell yourself. You reluctantly walk through the door only to find your house in a pigsty with electronics missing and jewellery and cash taken from your secret hiding spot in your room. All your happiness quickly fades and you spend the next couple of days trying to trace everything that was stolen so you can inform your insurance provider.

Home security is unquestionably a crucial aspect of our lives, particularly when we go on camping trips and our home is most vulnerable. When your home security fails, you keep asking yourself how you could have prevented this costly situation, and what you should do to better protect your home in the future. Well, there are lots of ways to increase your home security and deter trespassers, and this article offers a list of the most effective tactics.

Install a home security system

Installing a home security system is one of the most beneficial ways to stop intruders from entering your home. Any home that has motion activated lights in the yard is clear sign that there is a home security system, and trespassers will usually move on without hesitation. These days, a large number of security companies make it possible for you to access your security system through a smart phone which provides a great deal of comfort while you’re away. Plus, you might even be able to lower your home insurance premiums, so there’s certainly no harm in asking!

Keep eyes on your home

Having a friend house sit for you while you’re camping is the ideal scenario, but if this isn’t possible, ask a friend or neighbour to watch your home for you. The first things that intruders look for are signs that nobody is home, such as unkempt lawns and mail piling up in the letterbox, so having someone to collect your mail and mow your lawn is a certainly a wise idea. Don’t forget to return the favour when your friend or neighbour goes on holidays too.

Buy a home security sign

If you have a home security system, look into acquiring a sign from a different security firm so trespassers don't get tempted to find information on the internet that allows them to bypass your system. In fact, some homeowners eliminate this risk altogether by purchasing a security sign from a different company. Likewise, even if you don't have a security system in place, consider buying a sign anyway and putting it up in your front lawn. You can purchase these signs from most resale websites and eBay.

Don't announce your holidays online

You would be alarmed to find just how many intruders will learn of future victims on the internet. One of the biggest oversights that individuals make is publicly posting their holiday plans on social media such as Facebook. Publishing holiday photos while you’re away is essentially broadcasting to the whole internet that you're not at home! Save these posts for when you're safely back at home to deter intruders from attempting to rob you.

Buy new doors and locks

If you have any old doors or locks protecting your home, consider investing in new ones. An old lock and door can easily be broken, so think about investing in doors that are at least one inch thick and made of metal or hardwood. An added advantage of having new doors is that they increase your home's energy efficiency and therefore lower your electricity bills. Alongside this, look into adding a deadbolt or an extra strong lock to your main door for additional protection.

Move the hidden key!

Lastly, always see to it that you move your hidden key to somewhere safe inside your home. Whether or not it's a key under your doormat, in a fake rock, or hidden under a plant, most intruders are aware that people leave hidden keys around their home so don't take the risk! No one will need the key if you're all on a camping trip together, so there's no reason to subject yourself to potential trespassers.

Family camping trips are meant to be fun and memorable, and not just because your home was robbed while you were basking in sunshine! Adequately protecting your home and deterring potential intruders from your home is a key aspect of your camping preparation. As well as inspecting your tent and air-mattress, make a checklist for your home security such as asking a friend or neighbour to keep an eye on your home for you and notifying your home security firm of your holiday plans.

If you're going on a camping trip soon and need some camping gear or equipment, get in touch with the friendly team at TJM Australia. Phone 07 3865 9999 or use our convenient store locator to discover which TJM store is closest to you.