Okay: You're all packed & ready to go. Luggage is in the vehicle, kids & dogs are loaded and you are locking the door on your home. A nagging thought hits you, "What am I forgetting?"

Well, let's go over some details that belong, or should belong, on your vacation checklist.

1) Service your car - fresh, clean oil is good for an engine about to make a trip that will take you
farther than work or usual errands. Servicing your vehicle helps to identify and prevent any problems on the road, such as cracked belts, etc.

2) Refill any prescriptions you may need. Although you can get an emergency refill on your
prescription, it is difficult and time consuming.

3) Test security lights and timers If you do not have them consider getting them. Timers are not
expensive nor are they difficult to operate. You can use them on radios as well as lights, so your
home sounds occupied. Security lights can be as simple as leaving your outside lights on.

4) Arrange for care of pets and plants - ask a family member, or trusted friend or neighbor to
keep your pet or contact a local kennel for boarding. Either give someone your plants if you
only have a few or give your key to someone you trust to water and car for them.

5) Arrange to have lawn mowed or sidewalks shoveled. Long grass or snow covered walks are
a sure sign that someone is gone.

6) Make a list of emergency numbers - doctor, vet, dentist, auto club, insurance and contact to
make repairs. Take one with you and give one to the person caring for your children, pet or home.

7) Arrange to have someone pick up your mail or newspaper - A large pile of newspapers is a
big clue that no one is around. You may also contact your post office and local newspaper office
to temporarily stop your mail or paper.

8) Leave a key with someone you trust - Should your home require repair or an emergency arises, your home can be taken care of.

9) Secure lawn furniture and outdoor grills down, or - better yet, take them inside. Out of sight,
out of mind.

10) Clean out the refrigerator of perishables - Should your electric go out or your refrigerator
break, nothing will spoil and make your home unbearable to come home to.

11) Remove and hide the credit cards you will not be using - put them in a lock box and hide it.

12) Contact your local law enforcement and fill out a vacation report - the law enforcement in
your area will make a daily check on your home.

These are things you can do before you leave.

The day you leave, you should do the following:

1) Check all doors and windows, to be sure they are locked - you'd be surprised how easy it
is to forget this.

2) Cut power to the overhead garage door and put a padlock in the track - thieves can
reprogram another opener that will work on your door. With the padlock, they cannot
raise the door should they be able to discover your code.

3) Turn the water heater off.

4) Connect a radio and lights to a timer.

5) Remind emergency contact person you are leaving and give them a list of things they
will need to know: pick up mail, water plants, feed pets, mow grass, phone number at your
destination, list of people authorized to be at residence, authorized repair and phone numbers
for them, alarm company information.

6) Be sure to wear seat belts and use child restraints to ensure safe trips.

Be Smart, Be Safe, Have Fun

Community Safety Tips is prepared by The Troy Police Department Auxiliary