FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE  

Meriden , CT - November 21, 2006 - This time of year many people take advantage of school breaks and the holidays to go on vacation, visit friends, or just get out of the house for holiday shopping. Unfortunately, empty homes also mean burglars will have countless good prospects. “It’s a very vulnerable time for homeowners,” said Ray Palermo, director of public information for Teachers’ Insurance Plan™. “People are busy, distracted, and not always focusing on the more mundane things of life, like making sure your home is secure.” He offered a few precautions to help prevent homeowners from falling victim to thieves this holiday season.

• Start by making a full exterior examination of your house. Make sure all locked doors and window have a tight fit when closed. Check to see if there’s any “wiggle room” that could give a thief enough space to jimmy it open. Walk around the entire property to ensure there is nothing that can be used to climb to upper floors. Look in your windows to make sure blinds are positioned to screen the interior view, but not closed completely. You may want to move any computers and TVs away from prying eyes. Never leave an “emergency key” hidden outside your house.
• Always leave your home in a secure state, regardless of the time you expect to be away. A burglar watching your house is capable of taking what he wants in a few carefully planned moments.
• When you are away from the house, particularly for an extended period, be sure to make it look lived-in. Put timers on a few lights at varied times; put a timer on a radio set to a talk-radio station; install a dusk/dawn outside light or motion detector; ask a neighbor to pick up any circulars that might pile up on your doorstep; and stop delivery of newspapers and mail.
• In many instances installing a home alarm system will give you protection, a sense of calm and even a discount on your homeowner’s insurance.
• Walk around the interior of your home and inventory your major possessions. An easy way is to place valuables out on tables and videotape your house, room-to-room of all furniture, paintings and other possessions. Make a list and place it, any photos/video you took, and perhaps the valuables themselves, in a safe deposit box.
• Tell a trusted neighbor on your block that you will be away. Activity or noise that might otherwise seem normal to them could be alarming if they know you are away from home.
• The only thing worse than losing your possessions is not being sufficiently covered to recoup your losses, so check to see if your homeowner’s insurance coverage is up to date.