With the summer travel season upon us, let’s take a few minutes to review some important information about safeguarding your home before heading out to your favorite destination…
Remember to pack sufficient medicines to meet any specific needs of your family members. .
Inform your trusted relatives and friends of your itinerary so that you can be contacted for emergencies. However, avoid discussing your absence in public.
Stop mail and newspaper delivery. An accumulation of newspapers and mail will attract the attention of would-be burglars.
Ensure all non essential appliances and equipment are unplugged, the gas supply is shut off, and all water faucets are turned off.
Clean out your wallet/purse before you go; take only essential credit cards.
Pack things of value and necessity (i.e. medicine and jewelry) in a carry-on baggage that will stay with you.
Research the crime in the places you are going to visit, so you can be better prepared to avoid certain areas that may impact your safety.
Set some essential safety rules for your kids, a place you should meet if separated etc…
Ensure all locks on doors and windows in your home function correctly and are secured.
Record all serial numbers on valuables (stereos, televisions, computers etc…) place this information in safe location (bank safety deposit box).
Arrange for someone to mow your lawn to give your home a lived-in look.
Use timers to turn on/off lights, radio and TV to give your home a lived-in look / sound.
Hide garbage cans out of view. Empty cans, when everyone else’s is full, can tell a burglar you are away.
If you someone caring for your pets, ensure you have adequate food available, and ensure the person caring for your pets has a key and alarm code(s) etc…
Turn down the ringer on your telephone and the sound on your answering machine so a burglar will not be alerted to your absence by its ringing. Don’t leave a message on your answering machine telling people you are away etc…
Close and lock garage doors and windows. Automatic garage door openers can even be unplugged to further safeguard your home.
Ask a neighbor to park in your driveway. If you leave your car at home, park it in the driveway rather than the garage. Have your neighbor move it occasionally so it looks like you are using it.
Leave your blinds, shades, and curtains in a normal position. Do not close them unless that is what you do when you are home.
Ask a neighbor to watch the house while you are away. Leave your vacation telephone number so you can be reached in case of an emergency.
Fill out a vacation notice at the Milltown Police Department. Ensure you have all pertinent contact information, including your neighbor or friends that have a key to your home in case of an emergency.
New Jersey Motor Vehicle Law requires that the driver of a vehicle must yield the right-of-way to a pedestrian crossing the roadway within a marked crosswalk, or at any unmarked crosswalk at an intersection.
Simply, this means that drivers must stop their vehicles and allow pedestrians to walk across the roadway at school and pedestrian crosswalks. Pedestrians must also use caution when crossing the roadway, as the law prohibits them from entering the roadway and walking into the path of a vehicle which is so close that it is impossible for the driver to yield.
.jpg)