It’s that time of the year again when people get ready to take some much-needed time off. Bags packed, hotels booked, plane tickets purchased, car is tuned and the gas tank filled. But your house will be empty while you’re out, making it a perfect target for burglars.

According to the federal Bureau of Justice Statistics, burglary is 11 percent more common in the summer than in the winter, which means vacationers should include home security in their pre-trip checklist.

So before you step out of the house to enjoy your perfectly planned summer vacation, be sure your home is secure. Today’s smart home products can help automate your house, making it less obvious to potential burglars that no one’s home.  Here are some tips for securing and automating your home while on vacation.

Get a house/pet sitter

An empty house is vulnerable to attacks, so if you have a friend or relative that you fully trust to stay in your house while you’re away, then arrange for that. If not, have a friend or relative check your house or pet every day or every other day. This way, your house is not left completely empty for the entire time you’re on vacation.

Stop mail and newspaper delivery

One way burglars know which house to break into is if they see mail piling up on the front porch. To prevent his from happening, call your local post office to hold your mail. The post office can hold your mail for up to 30 days. Another thing to take care of is your daily newspaper rotation. Arrange for your newspaper to not be delivered while you are away. This way, newspapers and mail won’t pile up on your driveway or doorstep.

Invest in smart light bulbs

If you don’t have anyone to check in on your home or housesit while you are away on vacation, you can invest in smart light bulbs, which can be remotely controlled using your smartphone. You can also set these smart bulbs to automatically turn on or off throughout the day to make it appear that someone is at home. You can purchase a Philips hue starter kit, which has three bulbs and an IP bridge, starting at $199.95.

Install security cameras

According to a recent study, burglars are less likely to break into a home if there are visible deterrents, such as security cameras and alarms, and will likely choose another target if such deterrents are detected. D-Link Systems, Inc. offers indoor and outdoor security cameras, as well as a camera video recorder that can stream, record and playback hours and hours of security footage.

Replace old locks with smart locks

Smart locks allows you to remotely lock and unlock your door directly from your smartphone, and also see when anyone enters or exits your home. Smart locks also allow you to give temporary keys to house guests for when you are away, and ensure that the door will be locked when the guest leaves. You can purchase a smart lock like the August Smart Lock for $249.99.

Smart doorbell

Curious to see who drops by while you’re away? You can install a smart doorbell that lets you see who’s at the door, plus it can also serve as a security camera, doubling your home security. You can access the smart doorbell remotely using your smartphone, and you can even interact with people at your door because it has a built-in mic and speakers.

One such device is the Ring Video Doorbell, formerly called DoorBot, which you can purchase for $199. It features a wide-angle HD camera, motion detection, speakers and mic, and it comes with a Lifetime Purchase Protection, which means if Ring gets stolen, it will be replaced for free.

Do not live tweet

This may be one of the most important pieces of advice that you should heed while away on vacation: Do not give a real-time account of your activities on social media, as burglars can use this information to know which house to target and when to target it.

If you keep these seven tips in mind, you’re sure to have an awesome time while you’re away instead of worrying about the state of your home.

Photo by ell brown