Hitting the road sometimes means the freedom to get away, but for plenty of Charlotte residents, it's more about business as usual. As a major hub for companies from around the country, a large amount of the Charlotte population actually spends a large chunk of time on the road. And whether it's heading out to handle a big talk at a conference or simply spending time in transit as part of the job based at headquarters, those Charlotte residents who are gone a lot need to think about more than just how to keep morale up at home.

For anyone who is perpetually in motion for work-related reasons, there is an increase in the kind of awareness that needs to happen as far as home security is concerned. This goes double for those who are not sharing homes or apartments with others. While people might be used to the cliche truism that women who live alone have more chances of encountering danger, the fact is that robbers prefer to hit residences where it's obvious that no one is present. And for someone who lives in an apartment alone in Charlotte and travels frequently for work, male or female, this means that one's residence is a preferred target.

The first step towards better home security for business travelers is investing in a timer for interior and exterior lights. While it might not sound like much, this is the kind of step that plays on observation. Robbers don't frequently randomly waltz up to a residence; they spend a little bit of time watching and lurking. If lights are going on and off all day long, it appears that people are inside a home or apartment. And while on the road for work, a timer makes the regular pattern of lights on a daily basis continue, giving the impression that someone is present.

Likewise, another crucial home security move for those who will be away for awhile is ensuring that delivery of mail and newspapers is put on hold before one heads off via plane or automobile. A gigantic pile of unclaimed correspondence is a sure signal that the homeowner is not present, which is a cue to go ahead and attempt a break-in. While some business travelers tend to ask friends or neighbors to pick up mail, this is often a bad idea. People tend to be forgetful, so just putting things on hold makes a whole lot more sense.

Anyone who is away for business a majority of the time should already be using a home security system to help keep things safe while on the road. Even for those who are trying to conserve what's left of savings accounts, this extra protection level is affordable and a big game-changer. Since so many alarms come with basic features and reasonable prices, there's no reason to not get one installed, and the mere sounding of a shrill noise when a robber attempts to break in is usually incentive enough for crooks to ditch the effort at gaining entry to a home immediately, meaning that valuables are safe and sound when you return from your travels.