With spring break and the vacation season upon us, the Flossmoor Police Department reminds residents of the importance to take basic preventative measures to keep their homes safe and sound while traveling.
In an e-alert posted Saturday, March 28, Flossmoor PD recommended:
- Ask a friend to help.
Ask your neighbors or a trusted friend to keep an eye on your home. Have them to collect your daily newspapers and mail and put garbage out on trash pickup days. Neighbors can be the best deterrent to break ins. Provide phone numbers where you can be reached, a spare key and alarm system access for emergencies. - Tell the police.
The Flossmoor Police Department has a house watch program. Officers, when available, will check your residence periodically while you are away or the forms may be picked up and filled out at the front counter of the police department. Download or pick up a house watch form at the police department front counter. - The lights are on but no one’s home.
Don’t leave your lights on at home throughout your entire vacation in an effort to make it look like someone is in the house. Instead use timers for both indoor and outdoor lighting. Ensure potential entry points such as the garage, doors, windows, and basement entry-ways are well illuminated. - All doors should be locked.
This includes the doors leading from the garage to the house and the basement door. Place a dowel the width of the door in the track for all sliding glass doors if you don’t have track locks. - Check the windows.
All windows should be secured including the second floor windows. - Home alarm security systems.
If you have a home alarm system that comes with yard signs or window stickers, use them! Given a choice, a burglar will go elsewhere. - Stop the Mail.
Hold newspaper and mail deliveries if someone is not going to collect these items on a periodic basis. Click here for USPS mail delivery hold.
