VACATION PROTECTION CHECKLIST

- Inform trust worthy neighbors that you will be gone. Ask them to watch your house or apartment. Have friends or relatives mow the lawn and pick up your mail and newspapers.

- Request that the post office stop mail delivery.

- Use timer switches to turn interior light, radios and televisions on and off throughout the day and night.

- Ask a relative or friend, or use timers and motion sensors, to turn on exterior light.

- Consider having someone "house-sit", but only someone you trust.

- Remove anything of extreme value from your home and place it in a safe place while you are gone.

- Have someone stay in the house if you are attending a wedding or funeral. Burglars frequently read wedding and death notices, then burglarize the residence during the time the services are taking place.

- Insure that all the doors and windows are locked before you leave.

- Secure all tools and ladders so they can not be used to assist in breaking into your residence.

- Provide the person caring for your residence with your itinerary so you can be contacted if necessary. Also consider providing them with your insurance agent's name and number.

- Do not advertise the fact that you will be gone.

- When leaving make sure that you close and lock the garage door.

- Turn off or unplug the motor to your electric garage door opener.

- Consider having a neighbor park their car in your driveway. That may create uncertainty regarding whether the house is occupied.

- Turn the volume down on the telephone. That way a burglar outside the home can not hear an unanswered phone ringing.

- Have all mail and newspaper deliveries stopped. A stuffed mailbox or pile of newspapers is an invitation to burglars.

- Drapes should not be kept tightly closed at all times. Consider asking a neighbor to adjust them from day to day to give your residence a lived in look.

- Upon your return and prior to entering check for suspicious sounds and signs of forced entry. If something seems wrong DO NOT ENTER. Go to a neighbors house and call the police.