OKLAHOMA CITY – June 29, 2026 – Whether your vacation takes you near or far, your absence can make your home and valuables an opportunity for thieves.
According to the FBI, a break-in occurs every 28-40 seconds in the United States and burglars often take advantage of homes that appear unoccupied, such as during vacation periods. Residential burglaries continued a downward trend with reports decreasing by 19% in the first 6 months of 2025, according to the Council on Criminal Justice, however, there are still hundreds of thousands of burglaries each year, according to the United States Department of Justice. In 2023, the FBI reported 852,963 burglaries.
In 2024, the overall per-capita burglary rate in the United States was 229.2 per 100,000 people. The three states with the highest burglary rates were New Mexico (500), Oklahoma (411) and Louisiana (405). The lowest were New Hampshire (48), Rhode Island (91) and Maine (100).
“Vacations require preparation and planning, just as you ensure all your items are packed for a relaxing time away, it’s also important to protect your home and keep your possessions safe,” said Dan Scroggins, Vice President, Personal Lines Insurance for AAA Club Alliance. “Often, in the rush to get ready for vacation, home security is forgotten. By taking a few moments to safeguard your home and keep your valuables safe, you can enjoy your vacation with peace of mind.”
AAA offers the following tips to protect your home while you are away:
- Make it time-consuming to break into your home. Research suggests that if burglars think it will take more than four or five minutes to break into a home, they will move on. Check outside doors and frames to ensure they are strong and made of metal or thick hardwood. Use deadbolts on windows and doors, which can slow burglars down or deter them entirely.
- Invest in an effective burglar alarm that, when triggered, alerts the police, fire department and other emergency services. Check with your insurance agent about possible alarm system discounts.
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Secure your Wi-Fi network and enable strong passwords and device protections. Make sure personal information on your computer is difficult to access.
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Keep valuables locked up and out of sight. Expensive jewelry, electronic devices and other high value items should be hidden from plain view and placed in lock boxes.
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Make your home look inhabited. Use timers to turn lights on and off, temporarily stop newspaper deliveries, and arrange to have your mail picked up or held by the post office. An unkempt lawn is also an indicator to burglars that you are away. Hire a lawn service to maintain your yard if you will be gone for an extended period of time.
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Ask a dependable neighbor, friend or family member to keep an eye on your home while you’re away.
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Although vacations are exciting, try not to post about them on social media; someone may see your posts and target your home while you’re away. Avoid discussing your vacation plans in public places such as at the grocery store or at your local café.
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Create a home inventory. In the event that you do need to file a claim, preparing a home inventory of your possessions beforehand will make the process easier.
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Check your insurance policy to ensure that you have the coverage you need in case you experience theft or damage to your property.
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