By Kelly Youngblood
Leaving for vacation or a long holiday weekend? Worried about leaving your empty home?
Thankfully, there is a way to have some peace of mind if you happen to be traveling. The Urbana, Champaign and Mahomet police departments offer a vacation watch program. It’s a free service to the community that allows officers to check on residences while people are away from home for extended periods of time.
Urbana Police Department
Urbana residents requesting vacation watch are asked to email vacationwatch@urbanaillinois.
- Address
- Name of resident (including cell phone or emergency contact number)
- Departure and return date
- Name and telephone number of a key holder (someone the police can contact in the even there is a problem discovered at the residence.)
- Will there be lights left on in the house? Are they on timers?
- Will there be vehicles in the driveway? If so, list color, make model, and license plate number.
- Will someone be checking on the house? (mail, looking after pets, watering plants)?
Just be sure to contact police if you return earlier than planned.
Champaign Police Department
City of Champaign police officers also provide vacation watch patrol services.Residents are asked to call the police department at 217-351-4545 to request extra patrol.
Mahomet Police Department
Village of Mahomet residents going out of town can request a security check by clicking here for the form. Just print, complete and return the form to the Mahomet Police Department. Forms are also available at the Police Department at 303 E. Oak St. For more information, call 217-586-5533.
More tips for keeping your home safe while you’re gone
- Keep home and garage doors locked at all times.
- Close curtains and remove valuable items from plain sight of any window.
- Talk to your neighbors and let them know when you will be gone. Ask them to report any suspicious behavior.
- Leave a light on inside and outside of your home.
- Lock up valuables.
Many other police departments in the area offer vacation watch programs so contact your local law enforcement agency to find out more.