Community Policing, Vacation Guide

Community Policing

Vacation Guide

When residents of Plymouth leave for vacation, they may have a better sense of security by stopping at the police department in advance and picking up a "Vacation Guide and Vacant Home Notice" form. This document provides all the necessary information in checklist form for preparing to leave your home vacant for a period of time. It enlists the help of neighbors, and if established on their block, Neighborhood Watch, in providing security while you're away.

The bottom half of that form is a Vacant Home Notice which you can complete and detach and return to the police department. Although officers will not routinely make physical checks of your residence, (a practice believed by many to attract the attention of would-be burglars), it will alert them to the fact that your house is vacant should someone such as your "watcher" alert them of a problem there.

Plymouth Police Department
Community Policing
Vacation Guide

____ Don't spread the news about your travel plans, business trips, etc.

____ Ask Someone to collect you mail and papers, or have delivery temporarily stopped.

____ Arrange for regular yard care with a service, relative or friend.

____ Have the phone company set up call forwarding to transfer calls your calls to a relative or trusted friend.

____ Put lights, radios, etc. on timers in various locations throughout the home

____ Contact you local Neighborhood Watch/Block Watch to have members keep and eye on your house. (If you do not know who to call, the Police Department can help you locate watch group members.)

____ Complete the bottom portion of this form, cut it out and bring it to the Plymouth Police Department. If you would like a copy to give to your local block captain, ask the officer to make a copy for you.

____ The police department will not make "physical checks" of your residence unless the situation so dictates. (Burglars know what it means when they see an officer checking your house every day, and could break in right after the officer leaves!) If you want someone to physically check your doors, windows, etc., ask your friend, relative or block watch member.

Print and bring this portion to the Police Department.

We will added to our watch list.

Name: _________________________________________________

Address: _______________________________________________

Phone: ________________________

Leave Date: ___________ Return Date ___________

Key holder Name: ______________________ Phone: ___________

Relative to Call: ________________________ Phone: ___________

Lights on timer? (locations) __________________________________
_______________________________________________________

Vehicles On Property / In Garage? (make, model, year, color, lic.)
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
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