Bad guys get busy during travel season. Whether it’s summer vacation, spring break, end-of-year holidays, or anywhere between crooks are always on the lookout for homes without occupants.

Before you get set to head out – on an extended summer vacation, or weekend road trip – it’s important to make sure your home is protected and secure while you’re away.

For this iDSC Podcast, Doug Shupe, from the Auto Club of Southern California, shares with me several vital tips for home-owners and road-travelers on how to safeguard your house against burglars.

Click play below to learn how to return to your home exactly the way you left it!

***Transcript***

Recorded July 11, 2018, Los Angeles, CA

Every 14-Seconds a US Home is Burglarized 

Doug Shupe: Every 15 seconds in the nation, there is a home that is burglarized. Before you head out, make sure that you prepare your home. Don't post on social media when you're leaving for vacation. Share that content after you're home, and you're there to protect your house.

Tom Smith: Welcome to iDriveSoCal, the podcast all about mobility from the automotive capital of the United States, Southern California. Tom Smith here with Doug Shupe of the Motor Club of Southern California, a.k.a AAA. Doug is the Senior Public Affairs Specialist, and, geez, becoming a frequent guest here on iDriveSoCal. Doug, thanks for joining me again.

Doug Shupe: Thanks for having me again, Tom.

Tom Smith: So, the topic du jour is keeping your home safe as you head out for vacation. In this case, we're in the depth of summer. So, we're talking about a summer vacation. But, really, this applies to any vacation, any time you're going to be leaving home. And, you know, you plan the trip diligently, make sure you pack the swimsuits, or the skis, or whatever kind of trip it's going to be. And while you're thinking about going and having fun, you've got to make sure that the homestead is safe and secure.

Plan Your Vacation & Home Security Simultaneously

Doug Shupe: That's such a great point, Tom, because a lot of people do just as you said. They put so much thought and detail into packing the bags for the vacation, or, you know, if they're taking a road trip, they've done everything to their vehicle to prep the vehicle for that road trip to prevent a breakdown. But they forget simple things to protect the home while they're away. And, you know, so-

Tom Smith: I remembered my mesquite flavored almonds and my extra caffeine soda, but I forgot to lock the side door.

Doug Shupe: But you forgot to lock the side door to the garage. I mean, unfortunately, it happens across the nation. A home burglary happens every 15 seconds. I mean, it is incredible.

Tom Smith: Every 15 seconds?

Doug Shupe: Every 15 seconds in the nation, there is a home that is burglarized. And these types of crimes tend to rise during peak travel seasons and holidays. So, before you head out for Labor Day, or for Thanksgiving, or for the year-end holidays, which will be here before you know it, make sure that you prepare your home for when you're gone. You know, one recent technique that we've been hearing about is that the thieves will actually turn off the electricity to a house at the breaker box to check whether anyone is at home. So, it's a good idea. The Auto Club suggests that you-

Think Like a Thief to Prevent Theft

Tom Smith: Well, that actually serves two purposes, right? If I turn the electricity off, I'm assuming, I'm not a thief, but I'm assuming, one, as you just point out, it will alert me to whether or not somebody comes out and tries to figure out what the problem is. Two, it will kill the alarm, right?

Doug Shupe: Right. So, what we suggest is add a lock to that breaker box outside because, you know,