What Toronto Homeowners Need to Know Before Going on Vacation This Summer
July 26, 2026
You have booked the flights, arranged coverage at work, and packed the sunscreen. The last thing on your mind is home security.
But the days before you leave are exactly when home security decisions matter most. An unprotected home sitting empty for one or two weeks is a different target than a home that is occasionally vacant for an evening. The risk window is longer, the absence is more predictable, and the consequences of a break-in during that window are compounded by the fact that you may not discover it for days.
This is the complete pre-vacation security checklist for Toronto homeowners, built around the principle that the best vacation is one where you come home to find everything exactly as you left it.
Before You Book: The Security Upgrade That Makes Everything Else More Effective
There is one home security upgrade that is worth having before any vacation, rather than on the pre-departure checklist: STRIKEGLASS on your ground-floor windows and sliding glass doors.
STRIKEGLASS from 416 Security Solutions installs over your existing glass, making it 300 times stronger than standard glass. It is the physical barrier that protects your home when the alarm is triggered, but police have not yet arrived, when a neighbour does not notice something is wrong until it is too late, and when every other security measure has failed to deter a determined intruder.
It is passive and always-on. It does not require you to remember anything before you leave. It protects your home whether you follow the rest of this checklist perfectly or not.
If STRIKEGLASS is already installed, the checklist below ensures everything around it is optimized. If it is not, consider booking an assessment before your next trip.
48 Hours Before Departure: The Physical Security Check
Entry Points
- Test every exterior door lock. Confirm all deadbolts engage correctly and door frames are solid.
- Test all ground-floor window locks. Replace any that are worn or not engaging fully.
- Test the sliding glass door latch and confirm the secondary lock pin and track bar are in place.
- Check that the garage entry door into the home has a quality deadbolt and is treated as a secure exterior door.
- Confirm the garage door emergency release is not accessible from outside through the gap at the top of the door.
Alarm System
- Test the alarm system and confirm all sensors are functioning.
- Replace any low-battery sensors before departure rather than hoping they last.
- Confirm your monitoring contract is current and your account is in good standing.
- Update emergency contacts with your monitoring provider if anything has changed.
- Confirm cellular backup is active on your system so internet outages do not disable monitoring.
- Set the system to auto-arm if available, so arming on departure does not rely on memory in a rush.
Exterior Lighting
- Test all motion-activated exterior lights.
- Replace any failed bulbs.
- Set any timer-controlled exterior lights to activate at appropriate hours.
Cameras
- Confirm all exterior cameras are operational and capturing clear footage.
- Check that recording and storage are functioning correctly.
- Confirm you can access camera feeds remotely from your phone before you leave.
24 Hours Before Departure: The Vacancy Management Setup
Mail and Deliveries
- Hold mail through Canada Post for the duration of your trip. A full mailbox is one of the clearest signals of vacancy.
- Pause or redirect any regular deliveries expected during your absence.
- If you cannot hold deliveries, arrange for a trusted person to collect them.
Lighting
- Set interior lights on smart plugs or timers to create varied, natural-looking occupancy patterns. Fixed schedules that turn on and off at exactly the same time each evening are recognizable as timer-controlled.
- Vary the rooms and times to simulate realistic occupancy.
Neighbour Coordination
- Let a trusted neighbour know you will be away and how to reach you.
- Ask them to note anything unusual and contact you or the police if concerned.
- If you have a driveway, ask if they can park in it occasionally to signal occupancy.
Property Maintenance
- Arrange lawn maintenance if you will be away for more than a week in the summer. An uncut lawn during peak growing season is a visible absence signal within days.
- Clear any items from the front porch or yard that signal recent vacancy: flyers, newspapers, and delivery notices.
Social Media
- Do not post real-time travel content while you are away. Save destination photos and updates for after you return.
- Check whether your home address is connected to any public social media profiles, and review privacy settings if so.
Day of Departure: The Final Walkthrough
Build 15 minutes into your departure schedule for a final walkthrough. Rushing out with luggage means security steps are skipped.
- Walk through every room and confirm all windows are closed and locked
- Confirm all exterior doors are locked and deadbolted
- Confirm the sliding glass door is locked with secondary hardware engaged
- Arm the alarm system
- Do a final check that no valuables are visible through ground-floor windows from outside
- Confirm your camera app is working, and you can see live feeds from your phone
- Do not leave a spare key hidden outside the home during an extended absence
While You Are Away: Remote Monitoring
Once you are gone, your security system should be doing the work. But a few remote practices extend your awareness during the trip.
- Check camera feeds periodically, particularly in the first few days and after any alarm alerts
- Confirm with your monitoring provider that you are reachable at the number on file
- If a neighbour contacts you with a concern, take it seriously and ask them to call the police if warranted, rather than investigating themselves
- If you receive an alarm alert while away, contact your monitoring centre immediately and follow their guidance on police dispatch
When You Return: The Post-Vacation Check
Before you unpack, do a brief walkthrough of your home’s exterior and entry points.
- Check all ground-floor windows and doors for any signs of attempted entry
- Check the sliding glass door frame and glass for any damage or tampering
- Review exterior camera footage from the period of your absence for anything unusual
- If anything looks wrong, do not enter the home. Call police and wait outside.
The Upgrade That Protects Your Home When Everything Else Is Imperfect
The honest truth about pre-vacation security checklists is that some steps will get skipped. The departure is rushed. The mail hold was started a day late. The neighbour was not available. The camera battery was low, and you did not notice until you were at the airport.
STRIKEGLASS is the upgrade that maintains your home’s physical security regardless of which checklist items were completed. Standard glass breaks in a single strike, whether you remembered to arm the alarm or not. STRIKEGLASS does not break under the impacts used in residential break-ins, whether you are home or away, whether every other step was followed or none of them were.
It is the foundation that makes everything else more effective and covers the gaps when the rest is imperfect.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long can I safely leave my Toronto home unattended?
There is no universal answer, but the risk profile changes meaningfully after three to four days, when vacancy signals become clearly visible: uncut grass, accumulated mail, consistently dark windows. A combination of mail holds, light timers, neighbour check-ins, and physical security infrastructure significantly extends the safe vacancy window.
Should I tell my alarm company I am going on vacation?
Yes. Notifying your monitoring provider that you will be away allows them to flag your property for additional attention and ensures your emergency contact information is current. Some providers also offer extended absence protocols with enhanced response procedures.
Is it safe to leave a hidden spare key outside while I am on vacation?
No. Hidden spare keys are a known vulnerability that experienced burglars systematically check for. Under doormats, above door frames, inside fake rocks, and inside planters are all common locations to check. During an extended absence, arrange for any trusted key holder to keep the key with them rather than leaving it on the property.
What should I do if my alarm triggers while I am on vacation?
Contact your monitoring centre immediately. They will advise on whether police have been dispatched and what the next steps are. Do not return home and enter without police clearance if there is any indication of an actual breach. Ask a trusted local contact to assess the property’s exterior while waiting for police if a quicker on-the-ground assessment is needed.
The Bottom Line
A vacation is supposed to be time away from everything. Home security should not be something you think about while you are gone.
The homeowners who come back to find their home exactly as they left it are the ones who took two days before departure to check the physical fundamentals: secured entry points, functioning alarm, vacancy signals managed, and, most importantly, glass that does not break in a single strike.
STRIKEGLASS is the upgrade that protects your home while you are at the pool. Book an assessment before your next trip and leave with one less thing to worry about.
Book Your Free Security Assessment
416 Security Solutions serves homeowners across Toronto, Mississauga, Brampton, Vaughan, Markham, and the Greater Toronto Area. Most STRIKEGLASS installations are completed in a single day, well before your next departure.
Visit 416security.com to book your free consultation today.