Chesapeake In The Know

The last thing you want when returning home from vacation is to find that your house has been broken into. No matter how safe you feel in your neighborhood, the Chesapeake Police Department tells us that break-ins can – and do – happen anywhere. So before you leave your home for an extended period of time, consider doing a few things to keep it secure.

• Ask your neighbor to park in your driveway every once in a while and to pull your garbage can to and from the curb on collection day.
• Hire someone keep your lawn trim.
• Don’t leave a key hidden under the welcome mat (or anywhere for that matter). Instead, give a key to someone you trust.
• Go around the outside of your house and peep through your own windows to see what valuables you can see. Remove them from sight while you’re away.
• If you have the financial ability to do so, install motion-activated outdoor floodlights, a video doorbell, or a security system.

And the number one rule: Do not announce to the world that you’re out of town by posting to social media! If you must post, make sure only your real friends can see those posts or wait to do it until you’re back home.