Hopefully, no one will ever have the misfortune to be a victim of a burglary.  Burglaries not only result in damage to the home, but more importantly, result in the loss of peace of mind.  Criminals everywhere look forward to summer-time because during the time an owner is basking in the sun on vacation, the burglar has the luxury of time to plan the perfect crime.

What can you do to minimize the potential for your home to be a target?

1. Request a Vacation Watch.  Request a vacation watch when you plan on leaving town for an extended time or even if you house is empty because it is up for sale.  You can contact Officer Vance, at (281) 997-4117 or email him at mvance@ci.pearland.tx.us,from the Pearland Police department to have your home put on vacation watch.   Let Officer Vance know pertinent information such as:  information on dates of departure and return, any cars that will be parked in the driveway, lights that are left on or are on a timer, and some emergency contact numbers in case of an incident.  If someone will be coming over to feed a pet or collect mail.
2. Clean up your yard.  Keeping your home safe begins with the outside appearance of your home. Do not leave toys, tools or other items lying around.
3. Make sure that there are no dark or concealed areas around your home.  Cut your shrubs if they are too big.
4. Close all of your windows whenever you leave home.  It does not matter how long you’re planning to be gone; all of your doors and windows should be locked whenever you leave home.
5. Never leave notes on your door for deliverymen.
6. If you need to let someone into your home while you are away, purchase a lockbox for the key.  For the best security, never leave a key “hidden” near your house as this makes your home an easy target for burglars.  Be sure to replace your locks whenever you lose your keys.
   
7. Unplug your garage door opener if you are going on vacation.
8. Stop mail and newspaper delivery.  Or have your neighbor pick it up for you while you are gone.
9. Automatic lights.  It is also a good idea to invest in timers so that your lights will automatically turn on and off while you are gone.