We’ve all been there. Did you accidentally leave the iron plugged in? Forget to shut the kitchen window?

It’s that time of year for weekend getaways and extended vacations, and the U.S. Bureau of Justice Statistics has found that household burglary rates are highest in the summer.

Your bags are packed and your itinerary is booked. You’ll want to fully prepare your home while it’s left empty with this quick checklist:

Make sure your home is locked down and secure.

Consider a professionally monitored home security system and set before you leave. Double check all windows are locked. If you have a spare key outside your home, be sure to give it to a friend, neighbor, or put it back inside until you return. Almost 30% of burglars enter a home through an unlocked door or window!

Make your home look maintained & lived in.

Be sure to mow the lawn, leave a car in the driveway if possible, keep your pool cleaned and plants watered. You should also have timers set for both interior & exterior lights - a home that appears occupied is less likely to be a target.

Don’t publicize your vacation plans on social media!

As tempting as it can be, posting your vacation photos sends the message to potential intruders that your home is empty.

Ask a friend or a trusted neighbor to keep an eye out for your home.

A majority of break-ins are committed by burglars who live nearby. If your neighborhood has been robbed before, you may even want to consider a house-sitter.

Pause your mail delivery.

Or, have friends/neighbors regularly retrieve mail - a pile of newspapers on your doorstep is a guarantee no one’s home.