Crime Prevention While Traveling

          I would like to review some of the factors to consider when you travel on vacation or otherwise leave your home empty.  Some leave for a few days while some leave for months (usually the cold ones.)

        I have put together a list of things to consider when you are gone on vacation.  While nothing can completely eliminate the possibility of a burglary, I would like to work with each of you to lower the probability of it happening here in Bedford.

        Each of these steps are possible at little or no cost.  Some of them will work for you and some of them will not.   You must try to do as many as possible to keep your home safe while you are away.  The goal is to make your home appear to be lived in and to deter the burglar from breaking into your home.

        The best case would be to have someone you know and trust live at your home while you are away.  I have several animals including cats, dogs and birds.   It takes time and care to keep these animals and the joy they bring to my children is enormous.  When we go on vacation, I have my nephew or a niece stay at my home for the time we are away.  They not only care for my pets, but they guarantee that my home looks like someone is living there.

        For a burglar to enter a home while people are home, they must have a specific target in mind and the desperation to make such an attempt.  These cases are very rare in Bedford.  A thief may attempt to break into a house while no one is home, yet they do not want to face a resident in the home.

        Each of the steps following will aid in the fight against thieves.  While many of these are simple and performed by you, the homeowner, others should be handled by someone you know and trust.  A good neighbor is the first person I think about for these tasks.  They know your home and your neighborhood.  Make sure they know that you are gone and what to do in case of an emergency.  They can easily handle these simple tasks, since they perform many of them daily at their home and your home is only a few steps away.  The Neighborhood Watch Program teaches people to watch out for their neighborhood.  The idea is that by watching the neighborhood, anyone suspicious will be reported to the police department.  This concept is simply one step further along.  The neighbor is watching your home and taking simple preventative measures for you and your home.

        I have included a sample form from our Away Book.  This simple to use form is placed in a three ring binder at the police station.  This form has two purposes.  The first reason is that it allows the police officers to be aware that your home is unoccupied and the patrol car will keep an 'eye' on your home for anything out of the ordinary.  While extra passes in a police cruiser cannot insure that no crime will be committed, the extra passes by your home may deter a criminal or allow for early detection of  a problem.

        The second purpose of this form is to give the police department information regarding emergency contacts and alarm updates and protocols. We want to keep your home safe and secure while you are on vacation. With help from your neighborhood and from the police department, we hope to keep your vacation a relaxed one with no surprises on your return.

• Notify the post office to hold your mail or arrange with a neighbor to pick up and hold your mail.  On extended trips you may want to have the post office forward your mail. 
• Notify your newspaper delivery people to stop delivery or have a neighbor pick them up for you. 
• Make arrangements to have the grass cut regularly or have your driveway and walks shoveled clear including clearing off any vehicles in the driveway. 
• Have a neighbor or relative check your yard daily to remove any throw-away papers or circulars that may be delivered.  
• Notify the Police Department with our Away Book listing. 
• Check for any possible fire hazards such as oily rags, open containers or combustibles. 
• Check your smoke detectors.  If you don't know when you last changed the batteries, this is a good time to do so. 
• Repair any broken windows, door locks or window locks.  
• Keep all windows and doors locked. 
• Make sure your garage door is locked.   A door with an automatic garage door opener can be forced, so use the lock.  
• If your have any valuables in the house, take them to the bank safe deposit box for storage.  Deposit any extra cash into your bank account.  Don't leave burglars any extras. 
• Make sure your important bills are paid. 
• Engrave your valuables with Operation I.D. and make sure the labels are on your doors and windows. 
• Unplug major appliances such as televisions and washers to prevent damage from electrical storms (if you are gone for a long periods of time). 
• Set your thermostat so it will maintain a reasonable temperature. 
• Turn off water faucets completely, including the automatic washer.  Shut outside taps to prevent freezing. 
• Close your fireplace flue to prevent birds or small animals from entering.  
• Remove any highly perishable foods that will spoil. 
• Turn down the volume control on your telephone so it cannot be heard from outside.  Set your answering machine so the phone will not just keep ringing. 
• Put your shades and drapes in the normal daytime position and make sure that they are arranged so the police and neighbors can see into your home. 
• Make sure to speak to all your neighbors and have them watch your home.  Make sure they call the police to report any suspicious activity in or near your home.  This is one of the most important aspects of prevention.  You should do this for all your neighbors whether or not they are on vacation.  We cannot be at everyone's home watching everything.  You know your neighbors the best.  When something looks suspicious or out of the ordinary call them if they are home.  If they are not home call us, we will check it out.  9-1-1 is available for any urgent calls and if you feel uneasy call us at 781-275-1212.  We want to know what makes you uneasy, we want to make you feel safe in your home and on your vacation.  Call Us... 
• Don't leave a hidden key for anyone.  The burglars know where to look, no matter where you hide it.  
• Don't leave any ladders outside for easy upstairs access. 
• Remove any window air conditioners and lock the window. 
• Use outside spot lights for all your entrances that have photo cells to turn on at dusk and off at dawn. 
• If you have an alarm system, make sure it is on when you leave. 
• Make sure you leave important information with a neighbor or relative regarding the alarm codes in case of problems.  Also leave information as to where you can be contacted in case of an emergency. 
• If you are leaving a car or other vehicle park it in your driveway not the garage.  Make sure it is locked.  Have someone move it so you appear to be home. 
• If you aren't leaving a vehicle, ask a neighbor to park their car in your driveway once in awhile. 
• Set timers for your lights.  Use a timer for a radio.  Set your lights in a pattern such as living room on at dusk and off at bedtime and a bedroom light to go on at bedtime.  Use random settings for the bathroom and kitchen.  Make your home looked lived in. 
• Leave a key with a friend, neighbor or relative.   Make sure the Away Book listing has this information. 
• Place toys in your yard to look like someone has been playing there.  Have a neighbor move them around once in awhile. 
• Lock up bicycles you may have in your garage. 

Here are a few traveling tips that may be of use during your trip.

• Make sure your car is in good shape for the trip.
• Clean out your wallet or purse before you go; take only essential credit cards.  Plan to use credit cards or traveler's checks instead of cash whenever possible.
• Carry your purse close to your body, or a wallet in an inside front pocket.  Better yet, take a "fanny pack" or wear a money pouch under your clothes. 
• Pack as lightly as possible.  Lots of heavy, cumbersome bags will slow you down and make you more vulnerable to getting robbed.
• Keep a separate record of the contents of checked luggage.  And keep anything of value such as medicine and jewelry in a carry-on that stays with you.
• Write your name and itinerary on a card inside your checked luggage in case it gets lost.  The airlines will open it and know where to send your luggage, the tags often get torn off the handles.
• Don't display expensive jewelry, cameras, bags and other items that may draw attention.
• Check maps before you go out so you can tour confidently.
• Stick to well lighted and well traveled streets at all times - no shortcuts.
• Always lock your car when it's parked, even if the stop is brief.  Keep valuables out of sight, preferably locked in the trunk.
• Don't advertise that you are a tourist by leaving maps and guidebooks on the seat or dashboard, keep them in the glove box.
• Woman shouldn't carry open weave purses that show the contents of their purse.
• Whether you are a passenger or a driver, keep car doors locked.  Be particularly alert in parking lots and garages.  Park near an entrance.
• Sit close to the driver or near the exit while riding the bus, subway or train.
• If someone or something makes your uneasy, trust your instincts and leave.