Crime & Safety

Hillsborough County Offers Vacation Tips for Residents as Summer Approaches

Learn how not to become a victim.

With school almost out and summer around the corner, Hillsborough County officials are suggesting precautions for families to take before leaving home for vacations to avoid becoming victims of residential burglaries.

Here are some tips:

1. Give you house a lived-in look.

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  • Place automatic timers on lights on each level of your home.
  • Leave shades and blinds in the same position they are when you are home.
  • Have someone mow your lawn while you're gone.
  • Install motion sensor lights on all outdoor lights.
  • Cancel your newspaper.
  • Ask a neighbor to park in your driveway while you're gone.

2. Inform as few people as possible about your whereabouts.

  • Tell the local police department or the sheriff's office that you're going away, and let them know who has access to your house.
  • Leave your normal message on your answering machine.
  • Leave your contact information with a neighbor, and ask them to lookout for your property.

3. Secure your home when you leave.

Find out what's happening in Seminole Heightswith free, real-time updates from Patch.

  • Lock all doors with deadbolt locks.
  • Make sure your smoke and burglar alarms work.
  • Place metal rods in the tracks of sliding windows and doors.
  • Make a home inventory list with photos and video.

These tips were provided by the Hillsborough County Justice Department. For more information or more safety tips, residents can call 813-276-2033, or visit http://www.hillsboroughcounty.org/liaisons/criminaljustice/.


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