Burglars continue to target vacant homes for sale in the Bay Area. In the month of December, burglars were reported to have hit nine vacant homes in Livermore. Many of the homes were staged.
The burglars appear to have used a cutting tool to cut the Realtors' lockboxes and got the keys to the residences. Electronics, televisions, appliances and even picture frames were stolen from the homes.
The Silicon Valley Association of Realtors reminds Realtors and their clients to take precautions to prevent this crime from happening to them. The local Realtor association is issuing more safety tips for homeowners who plan to sell their home or leave their home vacant for a period of time:
• Make the home look occupied. Use automatic timers on lights, a TV, and/or radios and set them to go on and off at different times to make your house appear occupied. Install motion detectors on the exterior of your home and garage/shed.
• Keep curtains/blinds closed and lock all doors and windows. Use wooden stakes inside door/window frames to prevent them from being opened from the outside.
• Keep the property maintained, grass mowed, and leaves raked. Trim trees and shrubs so they can't conceal burglars.
• Inform the police and trusted neighbors that the house will be vacant for an extended time.
• Ask neighbors to keep an eye on the property and call 9-1-1 immediately if they see or hear any suspicious activity. Ask them to park their vehicle in the driveway and/or pick up fliers or circulars that may be left on the front porch, driveway, or in the newspaper box.
• Consider installing an alarm system and/or security cameras. Keep alarms activated even if the residents have moved out.
• Consider hiring a house sitter to prevent the home from being vacant during the selling period.
• Refrain from putting "For Rent" or "For Sale" signs in front of your property.
• Schedule viewings by appointment only.
• Never leave a spare house key under doormats, flowerpots, mailboxes, or other hiding places.
• Place the lockbox out of plain sight, so it is not easily visible to passersby.
• Do not place posts on social networking sites that inform others that the house is for sale.
"These safety tips are useful for sellers who have moved out of the home and for families who plan to be away from their home for an extended time," said Denise Welsh, 2017 president of the Silicon Valley Association of Realtors. "The key is to make your house look lived in at all times and don't hesitate to ask a trustworthy neighbor to keep an eye on your home while you are away."
The Silicon Valley Association of REALTORS® (SILVAR) is a professional trade organization representing over 4,000 REALTORS® and Affiliate members engaged in the real estate business on the Peninsula and in the South Bay. SILVAR promotes the highest ethical standards of real estate practice, serves as an advocate for homeownership and homeowners, and represents the interests of property owners in Silicon Valley.
The term "REALTOR®" is a registered collective membership mark which identifies a real estate professional who is a member of the National Association of REALTORS® and who subscribes to its strict Code of Ethics.
Variations of this article have appeared in local area newspapers.
For further information, please email or call the SILVAR office at (408) 200-0100.