Leaving Town? Safeguard Your Home While You're Away

If you’ve got some holiday travel on the horizon (and can get past today’s Nor’easter), it’s important to give your apartment a little extra attention before hitting the road.

• Burglars often target homes that look empty, so make sure to have a trusted neighbor pick up your mail and any newspapers that would otherwise pile up on the stoop.

• Lights are also a great deterrent, especially if you have them set to a timer, so that it looks like somebody is turning them on and off.

• Check the locks on your doors and windows. If you want to give your windows a little added security, wedge a wooden dowel into the frame. The dowel will make it all the more difficult for a would-be thief to force the window open.

• Finally, make sure you don’t have any spare keys stashed outside your home (under doormats, behind lawn gnomes, etc). If a neighbor is taking care of pets or plants while you’re away, arrange to hand over your keys before you leave.