With the worst of the pandemic behind us, many of us are eagerly leaving the house and hitting the road for graduations, vacation, and warmer weather adventures. However, before you hit the road, here are five common-sense security tips that could save you and your loved ones from harm.

1. First and foremost, never set your home address in your smartphone, GPS, and other device! If someone steals your phone or breaks into your car you do not want the thieves to have access your home. Also, if you carry any paperwork in your car that contains your home address, it should be kept in a locked glove compartment to minimize the risk of that information being misused for criminal purposes.
2. Whether at home or in a hotel – never a trust a door chain lock exclusively for safety, as they are easily compromised. Always use a chain lock in combination with a cylinder, knob, or deadbolt lock. Investing in a home security system like those supplied by Security Specialists should also be considered. Cover uncovered peepholes when staying at hotels or if you have a peephole without a cover at home. Some hotel room doors feature an uncovered peephole. As most one-way technology peepholes can be compromised, always put a crumpled tissue in the peephole so no one can see into your room. The same holds true if you have an uncovered peephole on your home’s front door.
3. Always keep your car key fob handy. Car fobs contain panic buttons and can double as an alarm in case of an emergency. Pressing the panic button will cause your vehicle to repetitively sound its horn and flash its headlights. If your car is in the driveway this can draw attention to your location and scare potential criminals away.
4. Also, consider wrapping your key fob in aluminum foil when in storage as some cars can be broken into using devices that boost and relay signals from remote key fobs. Wrapping a fob in aluminum foil when it is not in use can protect against such crimes.
5. If you carry a physical car key, keep it in your hand when walking alone, especially in parking lots. This will shorten your overall exposure time to a potential attack by reducing the amount of time between when you approach your car and when you drive away.

At Security Specialists, we believe practicing some common-sense security tips when hitting the road could help you and your family stay safe this graduation and vacation season!