The Ultimate Vacation Checklist: Using Home Automation to Fool the Thieves - Prudential Alarm
The holidays are right around the corner, which means travel plans, family gatherings, and, unfortunately, an uptick in home burglaries.
Thieves know many homes are empty this time of year, making it the perfect season for smart homeowners to use technology to their advantage.
For decades, homeowners relied on leaving a single light on or asking a neighbor to grab the mail. Today, sophisticated intruders look for those obvious clues. At Prudential Alarm, we help homeowners in Michigan and Ohio go beyond the basics by using integrated home automation to create the powerful illusion of an occupied home.
The Home Alone Method: Great for Movies, Not for Real Life
We all love Kevin McCallister’s ingenious booby traps against the “Wet Bandits." But if you think a cutout of Michael Jordan on a train or a highly predictable light timer is enough to fool today’s criminals, think again. Modern security isn’t about traps; it’s about intelligent, automated systems that make your home appear actively occupied 24/7.
Here is your smart security checklist for a truly worry-free vacation:
1. Mastering the Art of “Virtual Occupancy"
The goal is to eliminate predictable patterns. Smart lighting and plugs, linked to your central security system, are far superior to basic mechanical timers.
Randomized Lighting Schedules: Burglars watch houses for days, quickly spotting a light that turns on at 7:00 PM and off at 11:00 PM every night. Use your smart system’s “Vacation Mode” or automation features to:
- Turn lights on and off in different rooms (kitchen, bedroom, hallway) at random intervals that vary slightly each day.
- Set a light to turn on for only 15 minutes in the middle of the night, mimicking someone getting up.
- The Power of Sound: Plug a radio or a smart speaker into a Smart Plug. Schedule it to turn on for a few hours in the morning and a few hours in the evening, tuning it to a talk radio station. The combination of sound and light is incredibly convincing.
2. Remote Control, Verification, and Response
Your smartphone becomes your command center, giving you full access and instant peace of mind from anywhere in the world.
| Scenario | Smart Solution |
|---|---|
| Did I lock the door? | Use the mobile app to remotely check the status of all smart locks and lock any forgotten door with a single tap. |
| The neighbor calls about a noise. | Access your security cameras (front door, garage, backyard) via the mobile app to verify the event in real-time, determine the cause, and call the proper authorities yourself. |
| A delivery needs to be secured. | Use your Video Doorbell’s two-way audio to tell the driver where to place a package, and then remotely unlock the Smart Lock on your garage to let them set it safely inside. |
| An alarm is triggered. | Your integrated camera system begins recording automatically. Our monitoring center receives the alarm, and if the event is verified with video, emergency services are dispatched instantly. |
Coordinated Alert Strategy (The Verification Loop): Modern security is about devices talking to each other. Your system doesn’t rely on just one sensor to trigger an alert; it uses a verification loop.
For example: If a motion sensor is triggered in the backyard, your system automatically tells the nearest security camera to start recording and sends an alert to the monitoring center. This coordinated action provides visual evidence instantly, ensuring that only verified intrusions, not just a raccoon, lead to emergency dispatch.
3. Automated Energy Savings: The Silver Lining of Smart Control
While vacation security is your top priority, your integrated system saves you money even while you’re away.
Smart Thermostat Setbacks: Your smart thermostat can be programmed to enter an ultra-efficient “Vacation Mode" the moment your security system is armed. This automatically sets the temperature to an energy-saving minimum (like 55°F to prevent freezing pipes) while ensuring the heat or AC doesn’t run unnecessarily.
Remote Warm-Up: Eliminate the “cold house shock." The day before you return to Michigan or Ohio, simply use your mobile app to raise the temperature to your comfortable setting, ensuring you walk into a warm, welcoming home without having wasted energy all week.
Power-Off Alerts: Some systems can be linked to smart plugs to monitor consumption. If an energy-wasting appliance (like an old radio for sound simulation) stays on too long, your system can alert you so you can remotely turn it off and save money.
4. The Digital Security Checklist: Don’t Tip Your Hand
No matter how advanced your physical security is, you can’t ignore digital etiquette while traveling. Social media is an open invitation for thieves.
Delay Your Posts: Never post travel dates, departure photos, or geotag your location in real-time. This broadcasts your house is empty. Wait until you get home to post that amazing beach picture.
Check Your Privacy Settings: Ensure all personal accounts are set to “Friends Only" (or even tighter) before you leave. Review who can see your stories, posts, and past locations.
Manage Mail and Packages: The surest sign a home is empty is an overflowing mailbox. Stop your mail delivery or have a trusted contact collect it daily.
By combining common-sense vigilance with the power of a fully integrated home security and automation system, you can truly leave your worries behind. Enjoy your trip, knowing your home is not just protected, it’s fooling the thieves.
Ready to set up your ultimate vacation defense? Contact Prudential Alarm today.
Visit prudentialalarms.com/contact-us or call us at (800) 252-0368.