The Vacation Check List: Crime Tracker Tips To Keep Thieves Away - Spokane, North Idaho News & Weather KHQ.com

The Vacation Check List: Crime Tracker Tips To Keep Thieves Away While You're Gone

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KHQ.COM - With people headed out of town to cheer on the Zags and families getting ready to leave for spring break, it's important to keep your home from looking attractive to thieves while you're gone.  Crime Tracker Kalae Chock offers the following tips to help keep your home safe.

First, ask your mail carrier to hold your mail.  The U.S. Postal Service will hold you mail anywhere between three and 30 days.  You can make the request on-line.  It's also a good idea to have your newspaper and other publications held as well.

Next, make your home look lived in.  You can invest in timers that turn on lights at night.  You can also ask a neighbor to check on your home and take out the garbage on garbage day.  This will give the impression that the home is not empty.

Also, be cautious of telling people about your trip.  Don't post your plans on Facebook.  It's easy to be trusting, but you never know if someone will take advantage of the opportunity while you're gone to break-in.

If you park at the airport, take your garage door opener and GPS system out of your vehicle.  Those two devices could serve as a map to your home and a key to your house.  Finally, locking the doors is the easy part, but taking these extra steps will help make your home even more safe when you leave town.

Written and filed by KHQ's Kalae Chock. Email her at Kalae.Chock@khq.com.

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