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Plan for Safety This Summer

DETROIT, July 29, 2014 /PRNewswire/ – Summer months are meant for travel, with the sun shining and the kids out of school, it is the perfect time to escape with family. As homeowners across the country are packing up and heading out on vacation, Meemic Insurance Company wants to remind travelers to take precautions in securing their homes while out of town.

"We often get so caught up in the excitement of planning for a destination, it's easy to forget about securing what you leave behind," said Meemic Insurance Company spokesperson, Pamela Harlin. "While it's fun to look forward to your adventures, it's equally, if not more, important to ensure your home and belongings are protected and take a few steps to lower the risk of a break in while you're away."

Planning for a trip should include preparing safety measures to keep your most expensive possession, your home, protected from burglars. According to the FBI, an estimated 2.2 million burglaries occurred in 2010, adding up to a total of $4.6 billion in lost property. Below are 6 summer safety tips to make your house unappealing to intruders:

Alert neighbors of your vacation: It is great practice to have a trustworthy neighbor look after your house while out of town. Instruct them to call the police if there is any suspicious activity. It may be best to choose someone who works from home or who is retired so someone is on the look-out throughout the day and night.

Avoid hiding a spare key: Hiding a key under the doormat or potted plant is not safe, it provides access to anyone who can find it, including unwanted burglars. Instead, give a key to a trusted neighbor and have them check on your house occasionally while you are gone.

Keep up your lawn: An unkempt lawn is a red flag for intruders. It indicates that no one is home to take care of the yard. If you plan to be gone for an extended period of time, be sure to have someone mow your lawn and keep an eye on yard maintenance.

Secure valuables: Do not keep jewelry, important documents, or other expensive items in plain sight. Put these belongings in a safe and out of view for passers-by.

Turn on the alarm: If you have a home security system, be sure to turn it on and have it set up to link with your cell phone so you will be alerted if anything happens in your absence.

Pretend you are still there: Set your TV, radio and lights, both external and internal, with timers to turn on daily at certain times to give the illusion that someone is still living there. Criminals are less likely to enter a house that appears inhabited.

About Meemic Insurance Company
Meemic Insurance Company (www.meemic.com) provides personal lines insurance products to teachers and other educational employees in Michigan and Wisconsin. For more than 64 years, Meemic remains a Michigan-based company, proud partner of the educational community, committed to offering the finest possible protection, products and services at preferred rates. Trust Meemic for claims excellence, policy payment options to meet your needs and products tailored exclusively to the educational community we serve. Meemic is a financially strong company (A.M. Best rating effective February 2022). Our stability and reputation for integrity builds the confidence of our policyholders and remains the foundation for our continued mission to serve the educational community.