Business and pleasure travelers have some travel concerns and preparations in common, and one of those is having to worry about what’s happening at home while we’re on the road.

If you have family or friends staying in your home while you’re traveling, it reduces a lot of concerns.  But if your home will remain empty, make sure that you aren’t sending a signal to potential burglars to come on in and help themselves.

Here are ten tips to help keep the burglars away while you are:

1. Let neighbors know that you will be away.  Neighbors are generally the first to notice what could be suspicious behavior, and this is one time that a nosy neighbor will be welcome.  (If you live in an apartment or other managed building, advise the property manager and doormen.  They can help prevent any unauthorized access to your unit.)  Ask neighbors for help in picking up those annoying unsolicited flyers left on doorsteps.
2. Try to get a friend or family member to stop by on an erratic schedule to check on the house.  An occasional car in the drive way, changing of light patterns, etc., can help make the house look occupied.  This is also an additional help in picking up unsolicited flyers.
3. Make sure that you don’t have a key “hidden” by the door.  Under the mat, above the door frame, or in the flower pots are not clever hiding places.  Give a key to anyone who needs to have it.
4. Have a car parked in the driveway, in front on the house, or in your assigned parking place if at all possible.  It will help to make it look like someone is home.
5. Stop the newspaper and mail service.  You don’t need this piling up.  Stopping the mail can be done online, and stopping newspaper service varies according the location.
6. Keep up regularly scheduled appointment such as gardening, lawn care, and housekeeping services.  An untended lawn or garden can signal an absent owner.  Keep as many consistencies to your normal scheduled as possible.  Ask workers to help pick up unsolicited flyers left on your doorstep.
7. Set indoor lights on automatic timers, preferably with a random schedule.  Vary the specific lights and times that they will come on.
8. Turn off the phone ringer, and turn down the volume on the answering machine.  This is especially important in apartment building, where a constantly ringing phone can signal an empty apartment.
9. Do not leave an answering machine or voice mail message saying that your are traveling or gone.  Don’t leave an out-of-office message on your office phone, unless required to do so by your employer.  Don’t let the “I’m on vacation” message get out to anyone who doesn’t need to have it.  You control the information.
10. Make sure you have appropriate insurance.  No one wants to think about being the victim of a burglary, but being prepared in still an important option.

How about you?  Do you have other things that you do so it looks like you’re home — even when you’re not?

十招教你如何避免假期入室盗窃

商务和休闲旅行者要做一些相同的准备工作，有着一些共同关切的话题，其中之一就是当他们在旅行在外时他们家 中发生了什么。

当你旅行在外时，如果有家人或者朋友待在你的家中，这将省去许多担心。但是如果你的房子是空关着的话，你要确保你没有向潜在的入室窃贼暗示他可以进来，请他自便。

以下是十条如何防止入室窃贼光临的建议。

让你的邻居知道你将要远行。邻居通常是第一个意识到可疑行为的人，这时候一个嗅觉敏锐的邻居就很派得上用场了。（如果你居住的是公寓或者其它大楼，那就请告知财产保管员和门卫，他们能够防止一些未被授权的人进入你的公寓。）让邻居帮忙捡起门口那些烦人的不请自来的传单。试着让你的朋友或者家人不定期地造访检查你的房子。车道上偶尔有车，

     灯光布局有所变化等等都能使屋子里看起来有人。拿掉烦人的传单也是额外的一个行之有效的方法。

确保你没把钥匙藏在门附近。在地毯下面，门框上面或者在未被巧妙藏匿的花盆中。把钥匙给需要的人保管。

尽可能有车停在屋子前面的车道上或者指定的停车位上，这会使得屋子里看起来有人。

暂停报纸和邮件递送服务，你不需要这种积累。停止邮件递送可以网上进行，停止报纸递送的方式则依照地点的不同而不同。

保持常规的预定的项目，比如说园艺、草坪养护和家政服务。一片被忽视的草坪或者一座荒废的花园显示主人不在家。尽可能与平时正常的安排保持一致。请工人们帮忙捡起门口阶梯上不请自来的传单。

为室内灯光设定自动定时，最好设定不规则的时间。把所开灯和所设定的时间错开。

关掉电话响铃，调低答录机的音量。这一点在公寓楼里显得尤为重要，因为持续不断的电话铃声显示一座空关的公寓。

不要在答录机里留言或者使用语音信息说你正在出门旅行，不要在你的办公室电话里留言说你不在上班，除非你的雇主要求你这么做。不要让“我正在旅行”的信息传到任何一个不该知道的人耳里。你的信息由你来掌控。

确保你拥有妥善的保险。没有人想成为入室盗窃的受害者，但是预先作准备仍然是重要的明智之举。

你呢？你是否做过其它使得看起来你在家的事情？甚至当你根本不在的时候。