Leaving Home for FIFA, Concerts, or Summer Events? A BC Home Security Checklist

Major events are exciting.

FIFA 2026 activity in Vancouver, concerts, festivals, weddings, long weekends, and summer trips will pull many BC residents away from home for full days, late nights, or overnight stays.

The event itself is not the problem.

The real issue is what happens when a home, garage, driveway, rental property, or small business property is left unattended without a plan. A quiet property can lose the natural protection that comes from people coming and going during a normal day.

For many homes, a strong checklist, working cameras, and a trusted neighbour may be enough. For other properties, especially homes with visible valuables, vehicles, tools, business equipment, or low visibility from the street, temporary property checks or mobile patrol may be worth considering.

This guide helps BC homeowners, renters, landlords, property managers, and small business owners assess exposure before leaving for an event, concert, game, or trip.

Why major events and summer travel can leave homes more exposed

When people leave for a major event, they often focus on tickets, parking, travel time, hotels, rides, bags, and schedules.

The house becomes an afterthought.

That is where small gaps happen.

A side window may be left unlocked. A garage door opener may stay inside a vehicle. A parcel may sit on the front step. A bike or ladder may remain visible. A spare key may still be in the usual hiding spot. A social media post may announce that the family is away before anyone has returned home.

None of these mistakes are dramatic on their own.

Together, they can make a property look easier to approach.

Event season also creates longer absences. A concert may start in the evening but require hours of driving, parking, entry lines, and a late return. A FIFA match or Vancouver event may turn into a full-day trip from Chilliwack, Abbotsford, Langley, Mission, Hope, or other Fraser Valley communities. A long weekend can leave a property quiet for several days.

Good home security planning is not about fear. It is about reducing easy opportunities before leaving.

What to check before leaving your home empty

A proper home security check should start before you lock the front door.

Walk through the property like someone who is responsible for finding gaps. Check the front, back, sides, garage, driveway, vehicles, shed, basement access, and any gate or side entrance.