As one of Virginias biggest cities, Norfolk attracts people from all over the state and the region. The citys population continues to grow rapidly due to the number of opportunities in the area, the citys beauty, and Norfolks proximity to fun recreational areas nearby. On the weekends, many residents head out to Virginia Beach, which is only half an hour away, and which provides an excellent opportunity to relax in the sun. Unfortunately though, the Norfolk police have noticed an increase in crime during the spring and summer months because thieves have started targeting the empty homes of residents who are at the beach. Thieves generally look for empty houses to break into because theyd rather not deal with confronting the houses inhabitants, so Norfolk residents really need to protect their homes while theyre away at the beach. Some simple and fast home security steps you can take to keep your house safe while youre not at home are:

5. Notify your neighbors. If your trusted neighbors are aware that youll be out of town, they can help keep an extra eye on your house. Your neighbors are much more likely to question something that seems out of place if they know that youre away. If you have a neighborhood watch program in your area, you can also notify them and ask them to pay special attention to your house. If, on the other hand, you dont know or trust your neighbors, telling them that you will be away from your house is a bad idea.

4. Hire someone to check up on your house. Just by having someone come over to your house, you can greatly increase your home security. If you have pets, its important to have someone check up on them anyway, but even if you dont, its still a good idea to have someone visit your house at least once a day. They can pick up your daily newspaper and mail and turn lights on inside your house at night to make it look like someone is there.

3. Get a good home alarm system. You can simply turn the alarm on when you leave your house, and it will monitor all of the movements inside your house. If someone breaks one of your windows, doors or locks, the alarm will quickly alert officials to the break-in so they can protect your house.

2. Place warning signs outside of your house. When you get a home alarm, it will include warning signs you can put on your property to inform criminals that your house is guarded by an alarm. The majority of criminals who see those signs will be too scared to try to target your house, even if they think you arent home.

1. Vary your schedule. If you like to go to the beach regularly, try to mix up the days and times that you leave Norfolk. That way, its more difficult for criminals to scout out your house and figure out when youll be gone.