Before You Go On Vacation

Vacation safety rules for home protection are basically the same as everyday precautions. Add the following and enjoy a worry-free trip:

• Use automatic timers to turn lights (and radios and televisions) on and off.
• Ask a trusted neighbor to pick up all mail, newspapers and deliveries daily and to park in your driveway while you are gone.
• Leave a radio playing, preferably tuned to a talk show with volume low. This will create the impression of a conversation.
• Have your neighbor come into your home daily to change the drapery positions (giving the house a "lived-in" look).
• Keep your lawn maintained or your snow removed.
• Don't publicize your vacation.
• Remove anything of extreme value from the house and put it in a safe place while you are gone.
• Notify police that you'll be out of town so that they can send extra patrols while you're gone.