It’s always a safe bet to pause newspaper and mail delivery to your home while you’re on an extended holiday. You could even go a step further and use outlet timers to turn your lights on at night for the illusion of occupancy. While these tips may ward off criminals, what do you do if the unthinkable does occur while you’re thousands of miles away?
Well, one Brazilian man must’ve been glad he added a burglar alarm fitted with a webcam. His alarm system notified him of a break-in while he was away on business in Germany. He popped out his laptop and watched the robbery live over the Internet. Meanwhile, he phoned his hometown’s police department, and they nabbed the crook while he was still packing up the booty.
Also, a British sporting goods store had their wares saved by a keen-eyed American via the Internet. The man phoned British authorities when he spotted — via a webcam — men breaking into the store. Again, the police showed up in time, and caught the culprits.
Perhaps before your next long voyage, you might want to invest in a cheap webcam to keep an eye on your home. Many brands come with motion detection software that can notify you of possible activity. There’s also a specialized package called HomeWatcher written to keep your valuables safe.