Vacation Crime Prevention Tips

Before Leaving…Secure Your Residence

Vacation is a time for fun and enjoyment . You can make each trip more enjoyable and carefree if you take a few simple steps to reduce the possibility that your house will be burglarized or vandalized while you are gone. A vacant house, or one that appears to be unoccupied, is an appealing target for a burglar.

• Make sure all locks on the doors and windows function properly and use them.
  
• Give your house a lived-in appearance. Put automatic timers on several lights, a radio, and a television. Set the timers so that the lights and appliances will turn on and off at random times.
  
• Leave shades and blinds in a position that you would normally leave them.
  
• Arrange for a neighbor to pick up mail, newspapers, and any other packages. Ask your neighbor to use your driveway and garbage cans while you are away.
  
• Make sure smoke and burglar alarms function properly and are armed.
  
• Turn the ringer on your telephone down low or off and do not leave your lights on 24 hours a day.
  
• Ask a trusted friend or neighbor to watch over your property while you are gone and leave emergency contact information with them.
  
• Leave a normal message on your answering machine and avoid discussing your vacation plans in public.
  
• Contact the Columbia Police Department at (573) 442-6131 or (573) 874-7652 and request a vacation “watch in passing”. Officers will be made aware that you are not home and will drive by the area more frequently.
• Create an inventory of your property.