When walking down a street it is not difficult to figure out who is home and who is on vacation. Burglars know exactly what they are looking for. The point of the following vacation safety tips is to diffuse an opportunist by making them think that you are home. Please follow these safety tips carefully and you will decrease your chances of being burglarized.

If you are planning on being away:

·Stop the mail deliveries with your local Post Office or have a neighbor pick up your mail. (Having an overstuffed mail box is a sign that you are not home)

·If you have a  driveway ask a neighbor to utilize it by parking their car.

·Have a neighbor collect any flyers, newspaper or magazines dropped off at your door.

·Ask a neighbor to utilize at least one of your garbage cans and to put it out a night before collection as  you would do if your  were home. (please remember to ask them to pull back the empty can)

·IF YOU SEE YOUR NEIGHBORS HOME APPEAR UNNOCUPIED YOU MAY HELP PREVENT A BUGLARY BY USING THESE ABOVE TIPS.

·If the weather is warm leave one air conditioner on fan. (Fan on will defray your electric cost) If you feel uncomfortable doing so with a window unit than you can leave a pail filled with water outdoors underneath your unit. (This may look like your unit may have just turned off)

·Leave a few radios on in the house. (Kitchen and master bedroom)

·Make sure your shabbos clocks are turning on and off your lights. (A house without any lights  in evening is a sign you may not be home)

·Keep window shades slightly open but not enough for someone to look in to see an unoccupied home.

·Make sure all windows and doors are locked and secure.

·If you have an alarm, make sure to use it. (give a trusted neighbor a key to your house and alarm number in order to shut off if your alarm goes faulty)

·Make sure any outside lights you may have are turned on.

·If you already have a camera system please make sure it records.

·ABSOLUTELY DO NOT KEEP ANY VALUABLES (JEWLERY, CASH, ETC) IN YOUR MASTER BEDROOM OR HOME OFFICE. THE FIRST AND SOMETIMES ONLY PLACE BURGLARS RANSACK ARE THE TWO ABOVE PLACES.

·If you don’t have an alarm, outside lighting, window gates, etc. and would like to upgrade your security options you may call your local precinct Crime Prevention Officer to get a security survey (free of charge).

For emergencies please don’t hesitate to call 911 and the Flatbush Shomrim 24 Emergency Hotline Number at 718-338-9797.

(YWN Desk – NYC)