Vacation Watch Requests

Vacation Watch

When planning your vacation, don’t forget to protect your home while you are away. The Richton Park Police Department provides helpful tips to keep your home safe and secure.

Residents may also request a “Vacation Watch” before leaving home for an extended period of time. By registering your home with the Richton Park Police Department, officers will provide extra patrols of your residence while you are away. Notifying us also provides us with a way to contact you if we receive a call about a problem at your home.

To register your home, simply click on the link below and fill out the form. It should be submitted no less than 7 days prior to your departure. Paper copies of the form may be picked up at the Police Information Desk.

Vacation Safety Tips
Your vacation should be a pleasant experience for you and your family. Take a few simple steps to reduce the possibility of becoming a victim of a burglary or other criminal acts against your home. The time spent preparing your home for vacation could save you money later. Before you leave for your trip:

• Notify local police of the departure and return dates of your trip and provide the name and telephone number of a neighbor or relative to notify in the event of an emergency.

• Place a “vacation hold” on newspaper subscriptions, mail delivery and include the start and ending dates.

• Ask a neighbor to pick up newspapers and mail if the “vacation hold” was not followed. Ask them to remove throwaway papers and circulars from the doorway and mailbox.

• Place interior lights and a radio on timers to give the appearance that the home is occupied.

• Have front exterior lights on photocells that activate in the evening and shut off at daybreak.

• Notify neighbors of your absence and encourage them to contact the police regarding any suspicious activity at your home.

• Arrange to have the grass cut and watered, leaves raked and the sidewalk and driveway shoveled during the winter.

• Remove all tools, lawn implements, garbage cans and yard furniture to the garage, basement or shed.

• Unplug all non-essential electrical appliances such as computers, fans, televisions, irons, washer and dryers to avoid damage from electrical storms.

• Be sure the sump pump is functioning properly and free from debris to avoid basement flooding.

• Set the home thermostat at a reasonable temperture-85 degrees in the summer and 50 degrees in the winter.

• Make sure all entry points into the home are secure.

• Close the fireplace flue to prevent birds and animals from entering.

• If you have an alarm system, leave a current list of contacts with the alarm company in case of system activation. False alarms may be fined.

• Disconnect the electric garage door opener and lock the garage door.

• Be sure all vehicles left at home are locked and remove all valuables.