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A Mountain View family recently returned from vacation to find their home had been broken into, police said.
The family, that lives in the 400 block of Franklin Street, left on a vacation April 29; when they returned home on May 3 they found that a side door to their home had been pried open. Cabinets were left open and various items were moved around and not where the family had left them before going on vacation, according to Jaime Garrett, a spokeswoman for the Mountain View Police Department.
Garrett said the family isn’t sure what, if anything, was stolen.
Map: [http://bit.ly/k7Sb6t]
Whenever I get back from vacation or a business trip, there are several advertising fliers on my front door. This is a message to burglars “Come on in and help yourself, nobody is home”.
Businesses need advertising, but whenever I get home from traveling, my front door is full of fliers and my mailbox is full of junk mail. When can we ever get a break from incessant and unsolicited advertising?
The best way to prevent this kind of happenings is to have good relationship with your neighbor.
– Don’t update your Facebook or twitter of your location.
-Lock all doors and windows.
-Unplug most electronic items.This includes the TV, stereo, and especially computers.
-Turn the water heater down to a low setting.
-Suspend your newspaper and mail delivery.
-Consider leaving a radio or some other noise going in the house that makes sound. This makes it seem like someone is home.
-Disconnect the garage door so that it cannot be operated from the outside.
-Unplug your washing machine hoses. These often break and the water damage would be considerable.
-Remove perishable food from the refrigerator.
-Pay your bills before you leave.
-Ask a neighbor to put out trashcans on garbage day.
-If you are extremely worried, cancel your vacation 🙂
I recall thinking much the same thing, seeing these ads recently left on people’s doors and such. It would be so easy to print up a run of fake business flyers, post them, and then simply watch the neighborhood for a day or so, to see if anyone of them vanish. Those that do not scream: “Come on in, the loot is right here, free for the taking”. People need to be very careful of these kinds of things, as well as who they hire to do their gardening and house cleaning. Because if you don’t think that actually happens, I know several people who could tell you differently. Let the buyer be beware…you get what you pay for, and sometimes, more than you may be willing to pay. Stay safe out there.