By the SightShield team · · 3 min read
Empty homes are the main target
Many house break-ins happen when families are away — during school holidays, festivals and long weekends. Burglars look for signs of an empty home: dark windows every night, newspapers and parcels piling up, a car that has not moved, and posts on social media. A little preparation removes most of those signs.
A week before
- Check every camera is recording: play back yesterday’s footage on each one.
- Confirm you can view cameras and receive alerts on your phone from outside the home Wi-Fi.
- Test the burglar alarm and replace any low sensor batteries.
- Get any faulty cameras, lights or locks repaired.
- Pause newspaper and milk deliveries; ask a neighbour to collect parcels.
The day you leave
- Lock every door, window and the terrace door; check grills and padlocks.
- Put a few lights on timers or smart plugs so the house looks lived-in in the evenings.
- Arm the alarm in "away" mode.
- Switch off and unplug appliances that do not need to stay on, but keep the inverter, router and CCTV powered.
- Lock valuables in a safe or bank locker; do not leave cash at home.
- Tell your apartment security or a trusted neighbour when you will be back.
While you are away
- Check the cameras once a day — especially that the recorder is still online.
- Keep alerts on for the gate and doors only, so important ones are not lost among false alarms.
- Post holiday photos after you return, not during the trip.
- If an alert looks real, call the neighbour or the police first; do not rush home without help.
Apartments vs independent houses
| Apartment | Independent house or villa | |
|---|---|---|
| Main risk | Door forced on a quiet floor | Entry through back doors, windows, terrace |
| Key camera | Inside, facing the main door | Gate, front door, back of the house, terrace |
| Who can check | Association security, neighbours | Trusted neighbour, relative |
| Extra step | Inform the association manager | Lights on timers inside and outside |
If something happens while you are away
- Check the live view and recordings immediately; save the clip.
- Call your neighbour or apartment security to check from a safe distance.
- If a break-in is likely, call the police on 112 — do not ask anyone to confront intruders.
- Share recordings with the police and export a copy for insurance.
- Have locks and damaged doors repaired before the house is left empty again.
Upgrades worth considering
If you travel often, a few upgrades make trips more relaxed: cameras with human detection so alerts are meaningful, a burglar alarm with a mobile-network communicator, smart lighting you can control from the phone, and a smart lock that lets a trusted person in with a temporary code.
Home CCTV and alarms →Example: a family’s Diwali checklist
Before a 10-day Diwali trip, a family in a Bannerghatta Road villa followed a simple routine. A week before: tested the alarm and every camera alert, checked the NVR had 30 days of recording, and asked a neighbour to collect parcels. The day they left: switched off the geyser and water pump, unplugged the TV and computers, armed the alarm, and set two lights on timers. While away: they checked cameras each evening, and when a gate camera alert showed someone loitering at night, the neighbour and the society guard checked within minutes. Nothing was touched.
Apartment flat security →Quick answers
Should I switch off the main power when I travel?+
Keep the inverter circuit with the CCTV, alarm and router powered so they keep working. Switch off other appliances as needed.
Is it safe to tell the apartment security I am away?+
Yes, informing your own association’s security office is sensible. Avoid announcing it publicly or on social media.
What if my cameras go offline while I am away?+
Often the router has lost power or internet. Ask a neighbour to check, and consider router power backup before your next trip.
Will my cameras keep recording if the internet goes down?+
Yes. A wired system records to the NVR locally; only remote viewing and alerts need the internet.
Should I leave the inverter on?+
Keep the inverter on for the recorder, router and cameras so they work through power cuts; switch off unnecessary loads.
Should I post holiday photos while travelling?+
It is safer to post after you return, so strangers do not know your home is empty.