Protecting Yourself While Away From Home Granted, vacation is the time to relax and forget about all the worries of everyday life, but being too relaxed about your security can often bring more trouble than enjoyment. Whether you travel plans take you out of province or out of the country, there are certain precautions that should be taken.

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Avoid Carrying Large Amounts of Cash - Travelers Checks are highly recommended due to the feature of being able to be replaced if lost or stolen.

Recognize Local Authorities - Whenever you go to a new environment, be sure to familiarize yourself and your family with the uniforms and vehicles of the local police officers.

Out of Province or Country license plates and other typical "tourist appearances" can be very clear signals to a thief or burglar that you are from out of town and perhaps more vulnerable.

Hotel Rooms - Although most hotels take great strides to hire trustworthy personnel, you can never be sure who has a key to your room. Most hotels have a safe for secure storage for your valuables.

Personal Property - Camera equipment, camping gear, skis and other recreational equipment are attractive items for many thieves. Take precautions when transporting this type of baggage and don't overlook engraving a personal identification code on these possessions.

International Travel - In a strange environment, you are vulnerable to crime due to unfamiliar customs. Try to familiarize yourself with the laws and customs of the country you are visiting. It is also your responsibility to abide by the laws of the country which you are visiting. Negligence is not often accepted as an excuse for committing a crime.

Protecting Your Home While Away

Burglars make it their business to look for "easy marks" and are very observant of the signs of an unoccupied house. When planning to be away from your home for an extended period of time, consider some of the following suggestions that could minimize the risk of returning to your home only to find that it had been burglarized:

1. Arrange for someone to stay at your home in your absence to keep it looking lived-in and take care of all the normal household chores. Or, ask a trusted neighbor to check in from time to time.
2. Be aware of the signs that could lead someone to believe that your house is unguarded and make arrangements to minimize these signals:
   • Piles of mail, newspapers or other deliveries left outside the door;
   • An uncut lawn or un-shoveled snow;
   • No interior lights on in the evening hours;
   • Exterior lights left on during the day;
   • No trash outside your home on the scheduled pick-up day;
   • Absence of a regular pet in the yard;
   • A change in the normal display of drapes or window shades; and
   • An unmoved car in the driveway.

Before you leave, contact your police department or police officer on the beat and advise them of your trip, and how long you plan to be away. If you have arranged for someone to be in your home during your absence, advise the police of that fact.