How to avoid robbery:
Typically a home is robbed because the robber knows when you are home and when you are out. Most robberies occur at night and especially during the winter months (when most people are out of town). Protect your valuables by hiding them. Don't leave expensive or irreplacable jewelry out where robbers can see them. Put your valuables in places where robbers would not think to look. Close all the curtains and blinds. Lock all the doors and windows. Make the patio door safer by blocking the sliding track with a broomstick or a wooden dowel rod. Call the newspaper company and stop your newspaper if you plan to be gone more than a couple of days. Or have a trusted friend watch your house and get your newspapers. Leave pets with friends or pet-loving neighbors. Create the appearance of being home by setting television sets and lamps on timers (which you can purchase cheap at most local retailers and grocery stores).
How to avoid fires:
Nothing is worse than coming home after a trip and finding your home in ashes. Make sure everything is turned off or unplugged. Unplug portable heaters, hair dryers, irons, toasters, most kitchen appliances, etc. Be sure the air conditioner or heater unit is turned off. Make sure all lights are turned off, including the ones in the garage. Check the washer and dryer units and turn them off. Place any oily rags or anything flammable in a safe container or dispose of them. If you have a fireplace, be sure there is no potential danger for fire.
How to avoid floods:
It could happen. Turn off all faucets. If there is the possibility of a freeze, leave all the cabinets under the sinks open or that are covering the pipes. If possible, ask a trusted friend (with a key to your apartment) to run your water during any freeze attacks so that the pipes won't burst. Broken pipes will flood your apartment and damage your stuff.
Other safety tips:
Don't tell anyone you are leaving town except trusted friends and family. Avoid telling neighbors unless they are friends of yours. Try to be discrete about packing your car. The point is to avoid attention to the fact that you are out of town (and therefore your apartment is ready to be robbed).
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