BSO OFFERS HOME WATCH

With the holiday season approaching, many Broward County residents will be taking vacations, heading up north to see family and friends. We remind everyone that there are certain security-minded steps to take before leaving town. Remember to stop all newspapers deliveries, ask a trusted neighbor to pick up your mail, and contact the Broward Sheriff's Office to arrange for a home watch.

I am very proud of our Home Watch program and the fact that we offer this service free-of-charge. A deputy, community service aide or BSO volunteer will check on your home regularly while you are on vacation. We will conduct an exterior check of your house to make sure there have been no unlawful entries and that no other obvious problems have occurred outside your home. To sign-up for this free service, click here to download the Home Watch form. Complete it and return it to the BSO district office that serves your community. You may also stop by your district office and our staff will help you complete the form. Knowing that your home is being protected will put your mind at ease during your vacation.

Before you go away, make sure your vacant home appears occupied. Place timers on your lights and set them to turn on and off at different times. Lock your garage door and disconnect the automatic opener. Most importantly, tell a trusted neighbor or two that you are going to be away and ask them to dial 911 immediately if they see anyone on your property.

Here are some other vacation security tips to keep in mind:

Install good locks on all doors and windows and use them.
Give a spare key to your trusted neighbors and give them an emergency telephone number to reach you.
Have someone mow your lawn if you'll be away more than a couple of weeks.
Turn down the ringer on the telephone. An unanswered telephone is a dead give-away.
Never announce your absence with the message on your telephone answering machine.
Leave your window blinds as you normally would if you were home.
Be sure to close and lock the garage as well as any storage sheds, gates, etc.
Engrave all of your valuables with your driver's license number. If possible, videotape the contents inside your home.
Invite neighbors to park their cars in your driveway.