Summer burglaries are rarely spontaneous. In most cases, there's a preliminary observation phase: the thief notices signs of absence for one or more days before acting . The summer months typically see a higher number of burglaries due to extended absences for vacations.
The problem is that we leave these signs without realizing it , convinced we've taken precautions when in reality we've done the exact opposite. It's not about installing complex systems or spending a lot of money, but about correcting specific habits that make a house an easy target . These are the most common signs and how to neutralize them before leaving.
The mailbox and packages remain the most reliable indicator that no one is home.
Mail accumulation is an age-old yet effective signal, and online commerce has amplified it considerably. An Amazon package sitting on the doorstep for 48 hours is now more noticeable than three days of advertising in the mailbox because it occupies physical space, is eye-catching, and its prolonged presence accurately indicates that no one has been home during that time.
If you have active subscriptions, scheduled purchases, or pending orders, it's a good idea to pause deliveries or redirect them to a collection point before you leave . Most logistics providers allow you to manage this through their app or website at no extra cost. For postal mail, asking a trusted neighbor or family member to pick it up remains the simplest and most effective solution. The postal service also offers a temporary hold service for packages that can be activated in advance.
Beyond mail, there are other telltale signs of absence worth checking: trash cans left on the street for several days after collection, advertising posters stuck to the fence or front door, or even overgrown grass if you're going to be away for a while. Anything that disrupts the appearance of a busy home can attract the attention of anyone observing the surroundings.
A light left on for two weeks is just as suspicious as total darkness.
Leaving a lamp on permanently was reasonable advice twenty years ago, when there weren't many alternatives and thieves were less methodical. Today, anyone who observes a house for two or three consecutive nights can easily see that the lighting pattern doesn't correspond to an inhabited home . A light that never changes, that's on at three in the morning exactly the same as at ten at night, conveys absence just as clearly as complete darkness.
What's off-putting isn't the light itself, but the variation . Smart plugs with scheduling cost between €10 and €20 in any electronics store or online marketplace, and allow you to replicate real-life routines without any technical complications: turn on the living room lights at 21:00 PM, turn them off at 23:30 PM, turn on a bedroom lights at 7:15 AM. If you already have smart bulbs, platforms like Google Home or Amazon Alexa include an "away" mode that automatically generates random variations , without needing to program anything manually.
For outdoor use, motion sensors at the entrance or in the garden serve a dual purpose: they don't consume energy continuously and they generate intermittent light activity that is more believable than constant illumination. It's worth checking that these sensors are working correctly before leaving , as a dead battery or a misaligned sensor can leave areas of the exterior completely dark all night.
Social media isn't the problem: the problem is the public profile.
Posting travel photos isn't inherently wrong, and it would be excessive to ask anyone to refrain from sharing their vacations out of caution. The real risk arises when the profile is public or when we have followers we barely know: contacts added out of courtesy, acquaintances of acquaintances, or profiles we accept without giving it much thought.
A public Instagram profile with geolocation enabled and a story from the airport is literally an absence notice with a start date and, in many cases, an estimated duration if we mention how many days we'll be away. In addition, many people tag the hotel, destination, or accommodation, which allows us to deduce with reasonable accuracy when they will return.
The solution is not to stop posting, but to review your privacy settings before going out : private profile, geolocation disabled in posts, and, if you want to share photos in real time, limit visibility to close friends.
On Facebook, where privacy settings are more complex and less intuitive, it's a good idea to specifically review who can see your posts and whether your previous albums have different settings than your current ones. It's also advisable to check if any apps connected to your social media account are automatically posting activity, such as certain fitness or travel apps that share locations without the user's knowledge.
The exterior of the house can facilitate access without you having left anything open.
An aluminum ladder leaning against the garden wall, pruning shears by a back window, a large bucket or flowerpot near a side door: any of these objects can be more useful to someone with ill intentions than one of your own tools . This is one of the most overlooked aspects of preparing a home for a trip, precisely because it doesn't seem like a security issue but rather a matter of domestic order.
Before leaving, it's worth checking the exterior of your house with one specific question in mind: What objects or conditions could make it easier for someone to break in? Storing garden tools in a locked shed, ensuring that the locks on secondary doors and accessible windows are working properly, and checking that the fence or side entrances don't have any obvious weak points are steps that can be done in fifteen or twenty minutes and are often overlooked.
It's also advisable to remove any valuables from inside the house that are visible from windows or glass doors, especially electronic devices, computer equipment, or jewelry. The goal isn't to hide everything in the house, but rather to eliminate visible incentives that could sway the decision of someone already considering whether or not to act.
Combining good habits with the right technology makes all the difference.
Home security systems have evolved significantly in recent years, and today there are options for all budgets and types of homes . However, technology doesn't replace habits: a camera recording a burglary hasn't prevented them. What does prevent burglaries is the combination of signals that transmit continuous activity and the presence of elements that increase the perceived risk for someone considering taking action.
Outdoor cameras and motion-activated video doorbells have a significant deterrent effect , especially when they are visible. They don't need to be operational to serve this purpose, although it's obviously preferable that they are. Connected alarm systems allow you to receive alerts on your mobile phone for any detected activity and, in the most advanced models, to contact a security center or emergency services directly.
Smart locks add another layer of control : they allow you to know in real time if a door has been opened, manage access for trusted individuals remotely, and receive notifications of tampering attempts. Currently, there are specialized manufacturers like Yale that offer everything from connected locks to alarm and video surveillance systems for remotely monitoring your home. Something to consider if you're thinking about strengthening your home security.
Most of these adjustments don't require a large investment or technical expertise. They simply require a few minutes before leaving on your trip . Ultimately, the best protection is often the sum of small details: avoiding giving away your absence, maintaining an appearance of activity, and ensuring everything is working properly before locking the door.