The Coconut Creek Police Department offers an added sense of security when you go on vacation or go out of town. With the Vacation Watch Program you can leave your residence knowing that law enforcement will be looking after it for you. While you are out of town, officers from our road patrol division will conduct an exterior perimeter check once every 24 hours on your residence. Officers will check to assure your residence is secure and that it has not been burglarized. If anything out of the ordinary is found during these checks the emergency contact for the location of the residence will be contacted.
Submitting this request does not remove your responsibility as a homeowner from making every attempt to protect your property while you are away (securing doors/windows, lights on timers, stopping mail/newspaper service, etc.). We encourage you to make arrangements with family members, friends or neighbors to also check on your home. Please keep in mind that the Coconut Creek Police Department will make every effort to check your property, as priority calls or call volume allows. (See information below the form for additional Vacation Safety Tips)
Eligibility
Vacation Watches are made only to single family homes. Commercial properties, apartment buildings and vacant homes are not eligible.
Your request must be for a minimum of 3 consecutive days with a maximum of 31 consecutive days, during which the residence must be completely unoccupied. Any breaks in time, for example, where you intend to return home for a weekend then leave again, constitute separate “vacations” and must be submitted on separate forms.
A Vacation Watch shall only be permitted to be repeated on the same dwelling after a 30 day lapse between Vacation Watches. The requester will only be allowed two 30-day periods within the past 365 days. [Example: Dan Marino requests a vacation watch for his residence from January 1 - January 30. He would not be eligible to place another vacation watch request again until March 2].
Vacation Safety
A vacation, a weekend away from home or a business trip should be a pleasant experience for you and your family. You can help make each trip more enjoyable by taking a few simple steps to reduce the possibility that your home will be broken into while you are gone.
Safeguarding Your Home While You're Away
An empty house (or one that looks that way) is a tempting target for a burglar. Use this checklist of tips to help safeguard your home while you are away.
- Have good locks on all doors and windows, and use them!
- Make sure any broken windows, and door or window locks are repaired.
- Ask a neighbor to watch the house while you're away. It's a good idea to leave your vacation address and telephone number with a neighbor so you can be reached in case of an emergency.
- Never leave your house key hidden outside your home.
- Stop all deliveries, or arrange for a neighbor to pick up your mail, newspapers and packages.
- Arrange for someone to mow your lawn, rake leaves and maintain the yard to give the home a lived-in look.
- Have a neighbor place garbage cans at the curb on your normal pickup days and return them after the garbage pickup is made.
- Plug in timers to turn lights and a radio or television on and off at appropriate times. This helps to disguise the fact that you are away.
- Turn the bell or ringer on your telephone down low. If a burglar is around, he won't be alerted to your absence by a ringing phone.
- Don't announce your absence on answering machine messages; leave your normal message on the machine.
- Leave your blinds, shades and curtains in a normal position. Don't close them unless that is what you do when you are home.
- Close and lock garage doors and windows. Ask a neighbor to occasionally park in your driveway. If you leave your car at home, park it as you normally would. Vehicles parked outside should be moved occasionally to appear that they are being used.
- Secure storage sheds, attic entrances and gates.
- Consider taking valuables to a bank safe deposit box.
- Tell your local police you plan to be away. Patrol officers may have the opportunity to periodically check your home.
- Engrave your valuables. This simple step will allow your stolen property to be identified and returned to you if recovered by the police.
Safeguarding Yourself While Traveling
- If you are driving, make sure your vehicle has been properly serviced and is in suitable condition for the journey.
- Try to have specific directions and routes to your destination.
- If you get lost, call the local police for directions or assistance.
- Keep your vehicle doors and windows locked, even while you are in it.
- At stop lights and other traffic delays, leave enough space in front of your vehicle so that you have an escape option in case of an emergency.
- Let someone know the route you intend to travel and your itinerary. This will help authorities in locating you if there is a need to do so.
- Plan your trip carefully and allow for factors such as weather, fatigue, facilities for lodging, food, and fuel.
- Be sure you have sufficient money available; use traveler’s checks or credit cards instead of large amounts of cash.
- Ask the hotel or motel staff about their security measures so you know what to expect.
- Use the hotel safe to store your valuables during your stay.