It's Vacation Time

Be observant and helpful by watching over neighbors' homes, especially when you know they are not home or they have let you know they going to be out of town. They will likely return the favor.

Call 9-1-1 to report all suspicious or criminal activity! Anything that seems slightly "out of place" or is happening at an unusual time of day might be criminal activity. Don't worry that you're bothering the police or about being embarrassed if your suspicions prove to be unfounded. Think about what might happen if you don't act.

Going Away on Vacation?

• Double check that doors and windows are securely locked.
• Let neighbors know you're going on vacation and when you will return. They can keep an eye out for anything suspicious. If you don't know your neighbors, you can have a trusted friend drop by occasionally to do the same thing. If a friend is dropping by you can give your neighbors a description of your friend and their vehicle to reduce false alarms.
• Make sure your home is well-lit so there are no hiding places.
• Use random timers to turn lights on and off to make it look like you're home.
• Install motion-sensing lights that turn on automatically when someone approaches.
• Don't leave spare keys on your property. Burglars know all the places you might think of.
• Put a hold on newspaper delivery until you return, and put a hold on your mail, too, so it doesn't pile up. Burglars look for such things as a sure sign someone is away from home.
• Look at your house from the street and make sure no valuables are in sight.
• Unplug your automatic garage door opener.
• Don't talk on social media about your trip before you return home.
• Remember to adjust your central air thermostat to an away setting. Also turn off tankless hot water heaters. A leaking hot water pipe will fill your home with steam and ruin more than just the floors. Yes, not crime tips, but easy to forget.

Summer Food Safety

Outdoor gatherings in summer months have added challenges to keeping food safe. High outdoor temperatures make it harder to prevent food-borne illness.

• Devise and use a way to wash hands. Wipes are good, but soap, water, and clean toweling are better.
• Keep hot foods hot and cold foods cold. Don't set cold foods out in direct sunlight. Keep grilled food warm by placing it to the side of the grill until serving.
• Food should not be left out for long periods of time. Use covers to prevent insects from getting on food. To avoid having too many leftovers sitting out, cook items such as hot dogs, brats, chicken, and other grilled foods in batches.
• Be sure to keep raw meat, poultry, and seafood separated from prepared and cooked foods. Most importantly keep it separate from fruits and vegetables that are going to be served raw.