South Fayette Police Department

Safety Tips

 

DON'T INVITE TROUBLE

Be cautious about letting strangers know your daily routine or vacation plans. If rooms in your home are clearly visible from the street, make sure that no valuables are in plain sight. Many burglars are not Professionals, just someone tempted by what they see.

When you are going away on vacation, make sure to make arrangements with trusted friends or family to pick up your mail and newspapers on a daily basis. There are professional burglars who look for clues and opportunities. Burglars read newspapers, so never include your address in a classified ad. Announce social events and vacations after they happen, not before. If there's a death in the family arrange for a housesitter on the day of the funeral.

TIPS: When You're Going Away

  1. Contact your local police department and inform them when you'll be gone. Fill out a vacation home check so police can make periodic checks.
  2. Stop all deliveries or arrange for a neighbor to pick them up.
  3. Arrange for someone to mow your lawn, shovel snow, etc. to make your house look lived in.
  4. Turn radios and lamps on at different times.
  5. Hide garbage cans inside, empty cans can be a clue that you're away.
  6. Turn the ringer on your phone down.
  7. Make sure all windows and doors are locked and secure.
  8. Leave emergency numbers where you will be with a neighbor in case of an emergency.