Local law enforcement share tips to protect homes during summer vacations

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (KQTV) -- With summer upon us, many families are heading out on vacation, leaving their homes unoccupied for several days.

According to the Insurance Information Institute, July and August are the worst months for burglaries.

St. Joseph Police Department Sgt. James Edwards covered some of the biggest mistakes home owners make when leaving for vacation.

"Not making sure that their relatives or trusted neighbors and friends are aware that they're going to be gone and not scheduling them to come by while they're gone," he said.

Burglars look for the flow of human traffic and coverage of a home.

"If they don't see anyone coming in and out of the house and if they don't see the lights on in the house that kind of shows them a prime opportunity. If they see a house, that has tall trees and tall bushes in front of the house that is not visible from the road," he said. They look as that as a crime of opportunity where they can go in and not be seen by the public.

Posting vacation photos on social media is not advised.

"By posting vacation photos and videos while your actively away from home can be pretty dangerous because if the wrong person does see that they could see as an opportunity to commit a crime and make you a victim," he said.

Lighting inside the home and outdoor lighting is a good way to keep burglars away from the home.

"Make sure the outside of the house is well lit porch lights, yard lights, the driveway lights that line the driveway," he said. "Keep lights on in the house and you don't have to keep on every light obviously."

Security cameras are another good way to deter burglars.

"When criminals see cameras, there's a higher likely hood that they're gonna get caught and then were gonna know who they are and their descriptors and stuff," he said.

SJPD offers a watch program where an officer can come by and check on your home while on vacation.