Protect your home over 4th of July holiday weekend

Area homeowners should be on the lookout for criminal activity over the 4th of July holiday weekend as they travel for the festivities.

July is the third highest month of the year in South Carolina when it comes to break-ins and burglaries, according to Justin Tomczak of State Farm Insurance.

The many residents away on vacation increase the potential for home invasions.

Here are a few tips to keep your home safe when you travel:

▪  Don’t share your travel itinerary on social media. You never know who is reading your posts or tweets. Post travel photos online after you have returned.

▪  Ask your neighbor for a helping hand. A full mailbox and driveway full of newspapers are dead giveaways that you are gone. Have a neighbor stop by to pick up your deliveries and check on the house.

▪  Store valuables in a safe deposit box. Important items, such as your home mortgage documents, vehicle registrations, passports and expensive jewelry should be kept off-site.

▪  Install strong door locks. Burglars most commonly break into a home by kicking down the door. A high-security four-screw strike plate with 3-inch screws, and a door lock with an ANSI Grade 1 rating can make breaking into your home this way much tougher.

▪  Trim trees and shrubs near the house. Keep shrubbery cut neat so the interior of your home is visible and burglars can’t hide in it.

▪  Continue lawn service. An uncut summer lawn can be a red flag. Keeping landscaping maintained could deter burglars from targeting your home.

▪  Keep valuables away from windows. Your new flat-screen TV can be a tempting target, especially if it’s visible from the street.

▪  Install light timers. Light timers are an inexpensive way to give the impression your house is occupied.

▪  Set up motion sensors. Motion sensors installed in the front, back and side of the house can detect movement and shed light on designated areas, potentially deterring break-ins.

▪  Secure sliding doors. Glass doors are usually less secure than wooden or metal doors. One way to make a sliding door more secure is to cut a wooden pole or thick dowel that matches the length of the sliding track when the door is closed. The trick can keep the door from opening if the lock is compromised.

▪  Put in a burglar alarm system. If there is a break-in or fire and your system includes remote monitoring, a signal will be sent to your security system provider, who will contact the police or fire department.

▪  Unplug unnecessary appliances. A toaster, coffee machine, microwave, television or computer is still using energy even when it’s not in use.

▪  Join a neighborhood watch group and/or Facebook page. If your block has a neighborhood watch group, consider signing up. The more friendly eyes watching your home, the better.

This story was originally published July 1, 2016 at 3:02 PM with the headline "Protect your home over 4th of July holiday weekend."