Double-check locks before leaving on vacation, police say

There’s almost nothing better than heading out on a summer vacation, but there’s almost nothing worse than getting home to find out you’ve been burglarized.

Cameron McBride, a superintendent with the Saskatoon Police Service, said it never hurts to take that second walk through your home to make sure everything is locked up before hitting the road.

“Before you close the door of your car and drive away, take that moment to make sure that your home is locked, your shed, your detached garage is locked, and things that you value are put away out of sight and secure so that you increase the likelihood it is there when you return,” McBride said.

Proper lighting and motion-activated lights can be a big deterrent for would-be criminals, McBride said.

One thing you can’t buy in a store is community, so McBride said it’s important to build a good relationship with neighbours so they are aware when you leave and watch out for any suspicious activity.

There is one common mistake people make that should definitely be avoided, McBride said.

“It’s often the case we leave our windows open to get airflow, but it’s also easy to forget and leave those windows open when you go away,” McBride added.

A home security system can be a good investment for any homeowner, McBride added, saying cameras have helped catch criminals in break-and-enter cases, and helped with other investigations as well.