Whether you’re planning a week-long vacation or a short weekend getaway for Labor Day, you’re going to want to safeguard your home against potential break-ins. Of course, the hope is always that nothing bad will happen while you’re away, however, if we’ve all learned something it’s that preparedness is key. We all have our own methods for deterring burglars, but in the end the goal is always the same: make it appear as if there is activity both inside and outside the home.

We’ve put together a list of what we believe to be the most useful home safety tips. It’s always helpful to plan ahead of time rather than on the day of. When you put together a plan in advance, we guarantee you it will be more thorough and you’ll feel much better about leaving your home.

Ask a friend or neighbor to keep watch