Keeping homes safe while traveling

posted by Michael Hanson

Many people may end up traveling for the Thanksgiving holiday, and while doing so they should make sure their homes are protected against burglary.

According to the Georgia Insurance Information Service, along with protecting against burglars, the measures people take to make their homes safer could also provide some savings on their home insurance prices. For example, things like deadbolts and smoke alarms can reduce home insurance costs by 2 to 5 percent, while burglar alarms can bring discounts of as much as 15 percent.

There are a number of other things people can do when they are away from their homes for the holidays. For example, homeowners should make sure their houses are well lit and should trim down any landscaping.

"Homeowners can prevent crooks from targeting their homes during the holiday season by taking some simple precautions," David Colmans, executive director of GIIS, said.

People should also keep in mind that burglars may not only be looking for things like jewelry and electronic equipment. They may also be hunting for personal documents, which can lead to identity theft. Consumers should make sure to lock their documents away in a safe place. If they do find their personal documents have been stolen, victims should contact authorities as soon as possible.