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In the hustle and bustle that surrounds a wedding, many couples overlook basic security measures that could save them a lot of headache after they return from their honeymoon. Few, if any, wedding checklists have "secure your home" on them but they should. The communication explosion has given thieves a new way to spot potential victims. Some criminals browse newspapers and internet sites for wedding announcements, looking for the new address of the couple. They know that after the wedding, the couple's house will most likely be unoccupied.
With the expense of the wedding falling more and more on the shoulders of the couple, getting an alarm system may be out-of-the-question for the couple. Having a house-sitter is ideal, but you may not have friends or family who can do that. This leaves the couple with few other options. However, there are some things you can do that may make a thief look twice before trying to enter your house.
- Put your lights on timers. Timers plug directly into outlets and can be purchased quite inexpensively. You can then plug light sources into them and they will cut off the light at certain times. This can give the appearance that someone is living there even if there is not.
- Motion sensing exterior lights. These also can be purchased fairly inexpensively at your local hardware store. When motion is detected, a flood light activates. While this will not deter all thiefs, it might make them think twice before trying to break into a well-lit house.
- Webcams. Most webcams are equipped with software that can have them record images when motion is sensed by the camera. You can then specify these images to be emailed to you. Along the same lines, you could also have a constantly streaming webcam feed. Point the webcam in the direction of valuables. If you are using a single webcam, you may want to hide it without obstructing its view. If you have many webcams, you may want to mount them in plain site and hide the cords. Logitech makes high-quality webcams with motion detection included in the webcam software.
- Door and window alarms. If you are certain no one will be entering or leaving your house, you may want to install some door and window alarms. The kits are generally do-it-yourself and while pricey, they cost less than an alarm system. When a door or window is opened, the alarm goes off and makes a loud noise. This will deter most thiefs as they will not know if the alarm is attached to a system or not. Just be aware, however, that it will go off for you as well when you return unless you have a unit that includes outside controls.
Always make sure that all doors and windows are locked before you leave, especially if you will not be returning until after the honeymoon. You may have a neighbor or the post office hold your mail for you. If relatives are delivering your wedding presents to your house, make sure they know about any security measures in place. Having them place your presents in a secluded area (such as a closet) may also prevent any would-be thief from finding them.
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