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(Grand Rapids, MI) – Every 15 seconds, a burglary occurs in the United States. That’s why Foremost Insurance is providing simple steps to help you secure your home while you’re away on vacation.

“As we move into the spring and summer seasons, the number of burglaries tends to increase,” says Timothy Battersby, Inside Property and Liability Claims regional manager for HelpPoint® Claim Services serving Foremost®. “Not surprisingly, these are the seasons when many people take family vacations, leaving their homes unattended for a week or two at a time, and they become prime targets for burglars.” According to data from the FBI’s Uniform Crime Reporting Program, burglaries accounted for an estimated $4.6 billion in lost property in 2008, with an average individual loss of $2,079.

Your home and property are some of your greatest investments. That’s why it’s important to make sure everything’s secure when you are away. Foremost Insurance provides the following tips for safeguarding your home while you enjoy your vacation.

  1. Let trusted neighbors know you are leaving and ask them to keep on eye on your home.
  2. Don’t announce your travel plans on social networking sites like Twitter or Facebook.
  3. Get someone to pick up your mail and newspaper, or stop those deliveries for the duration of your trip. A pile of papers on the front porch is an easy indicator that someone isn’t home.
  4. Set your outside lights so one stays on at night and put timers on your indoor lighting so they go on and off at random intervals.
  5. Don’t hide a spare key outside. Criminals have more experience finding spare keys than you have hiding keys. If you need to leave a key somewhere, leave it with a trusted neighbor.
  6. Trim any overgrown hedges and bushes back so thieves don’t have an easy place to hide. 
  7. Most importantly make sure you use your locks. A quality deadbolt lock is the first defense from an intruder entering your home, but it only works when it’s used. In 2008, 32.3% of all burglaries occurred without forced entry into the home. You don’t need to just lock your doors, make sure you also close and lock your windows when you are away.

For more ways to keep your home safe, visit the safety section of Foremost.com.