Vacation Travel Tips
Don’t be a crime victim while away on a family vacation. You can start by making sure your home is protected while you are away. The key is to make it look like you never left:
- Keep shades and blinds in their normal positions.
- Stop mail and newspapers, or ask a neighbor to pick them up each day.
- Put several household lights on timers so they turn on and off at appropriate times.
- Arrange to have your lawn mowed while you are gone.
- Lock all your doors and windows.
- Put your residence on the Normal Police Department’s vacation checklist.
- You might even put a radio on a timer, and ask a neighbor to park in your driveway overnight.
While you are out enjoying your vacation, there are several safety tips to follow:
- Don’t display expensive jewelry, cameras, bags, and other items that might draw attention.
- Check maps before you go out so you can tour confidently.
- Stick to well-lighted, well-traveled streets at all times.
- Always lock your vehicle and keep valuable items out of sight by locking them in the trunk. Don’t advertise that you are a tourist by leaving maps and guidebooks on the seat or dashboard. Keep them in the glove box or trunk.
Traveling safely with your family means sticking together and keeping an eye on your children and each other at all times. Make sure your children know where you are staying, and teach them what to do if you get separated.
For more information call Officer Brian R. Williams at (309) 433-3440.