With millions of Americans hitting the road for holidays and school breaks, experts highlight the importance of targeted camera placement, remote access, and a multilayered approach to safeguard homes against burglaries and package thefts during absences.
Families heading away for the holidays or school break are increasingly trying to solve the same problem: how to enjoy a trip without repeatedly checking whether the house is secure. According to AAA, 72.2 million Americans were expected to travel at least 50 miles during the 2026 Independence Day period, which helps explain why home monitoring has become part of trip planning rather than an afterthought. At the same time, FBI figures showed 779,542 burglaries in the United States in 2024, with just over half involving residential properties. Package theft is another pressure point, with Security.org estimating in a 2025 survey that about 37 million parcels were stolen during the year.
The most effective approach is usually not to cover every room with hardware, but to focus on the places that provide the most useful information. Security guides from Security.org, Vivint and Alarm and Electronics all point to the same core areas: front doors, back doors, garages, driveways, side gates and delivery points. Camera placement matters as much as camera count. A badly angled device can miss faces at night or catch only the top of a visitor’s head, so experts recommend testing the view, lighting and motion range before leaving.
Alerts also need careful tuning. The aim is to receive meaningful warnings, not a stream of notifications every time a tree moves. Security.org advises setting motion zones so that cameras flag activity near entrances and delivery areas while ignoring irrelevant movement. That is especially important for package protection, because a timely alert can let a homeowner ask a neighbour to bring a parcel inside before it sits on the porch for hours.
Remote access is only useful if the footage remains available. Traditional recording systems often store video on local hardware such as a DVR, memory card or hard drive inside the property, which can become a weakness if the device is damaged or removed. Coram’s cloud-storage guidance explains that compatible IP cameras can send compressed footage to remote storage, with live and archived video available off-site and retention periods ranging from 30 to 365 days. The practical advantage is obvious: if an alert arrives while a family is several states away, they can inspect the recording immediately rather than waiting until they return home.
That convenience depends on the system being tested in advance. Homesecurityradar recommends checking the full setup before departure, including internet connectivity, remote viewing, alert delivery and any backup features. Coram likewise notes that cloud storage relies on a stable connection, which means weak broadband or a router failure can interrupt access. Some guides recommend adding cellular backup, a smart plug for rebooting the router remotely, and sensors for doors, temperature and water, so that a camera system is part of a broader protection plan rather than a single point of failure.
A sensible response plan is just as important as the technology itself. Security guides from Vivint and Homesecurityradar both stress the value of a trusted local contact who can collect deliveries, check the property or intervene if an alert looks serious. That person does not need full access to every connected device; a spare key or temporary code is often enough. If camera footage suggests a possible break-in or other emergency, the correct response is to contact local authorities rather than trying to deal with the situation remotely.
Good habits still matter. Nationwide and other home-security providers recommend locking all doors and windows, pausing deliveries where possible, using timed or automated lighting, and avoiding real-time social media posts that advertise an empty house. Security experts also advise protecting the camera account itself with a strong unique password and multi-factor authentication, and limiting camera views to your own property so that neighbouring homes are not recorded unnecessarily. The result is a layered approach: technology gives visibility, but ordinary precautions still do much of the work.
Disclaimer: This content is intended for informational purposes only. Readers are advised to exercise their own judgement, conduct due diligence, or consult a qualified expert before acting on any information provided.
