OC Sheriff’s Office offers advice for Vacationers

While the attention of many turn this time of the year to vacations and family fun, the attention of many thieves and robbers turn to homes unoccupied while families are out of town.  The Oconee County Sheriff’s Office wants to pass along some information that will help homeowners protect their homes and property while they are away. There are many tips and precautions that homeowners can take to protect their homes and property while they are gone on vacation. The Oconee County Sheriff’s Office recommends the following: Making sure your burglar alarm system is activated before leaving and putting signs and window decals of an alarm system on your windows.  Many alarm companies have aps and information on their websites that allow those who are away to monitor their alarm systems while they are away. Make sure your exterior motion lights are working, especially at the corners of a residence.  It might be a good idea to install motion lights if you have not already done so. Make sure all your doors and windows are locked and having dead bolt locks on all exterior doors is a good idea. Placing beware of dog signs on your property, even if you do not own a dog. Before you leave on vacation, turn on a TV or turn a radio on, especially to an all talk station. Set light timers for interior lights when not home. Have someone pick up your mail or newspapers.   You may want to a call your postal carrier and have the mail stopped for the time you are away and call your newspaper provider or carrier to stop newspaper delivery while you are away too. Do not post on social media sites that you are on vacation and do not post pictures of your vacation on social media sites until after you return home. Do not record that you are out of town or on vacation on your answering machine. Have a friend or family member check up on your home while you are away, or ask them to house sit for you while you are away. You may also want to consider calling the Oconee County Sheriff’s Office or your local law enforcement agency if you live inside the city limits of a municipality to check on the possibility and availability of extra patrols in your neighborhood while you are away.  One bit of information you can pass along to law enforcement would be what vehicles should be on your property.