With the holiday season upon us, many people will be traveling for extended periods of time, leaving their homes vulnerable.

Jefferson Police Chief Dave Morlan has some tips for you to follow to prevent any burglaries and keep your home safe while you’re away.

He says that you can use automatic timers for lights to turn off and on for periods of the day and night that you would normally be home and leave the drapes or curtains in their usual, normal positions.  Morlan states that its always a good idea to keep expensive items locked up and in a safe place.

He also suggests that you have a friend or neighbor watch your house and pick up your newspapers or mail and try to have them keep your sidewalks and driveways clear of snow to make it look like you’re home.

He talks about another way to keep your house safe is by notifying his department.

“They should call the police department and let us know that they’re going to be gone, we do house checks.  We’d be more than happy to drive by their house once or twice a day and just check to make sure that everything looks alright.”

Anyone with questions can contact the Law Enforcement Center’s number at 386-2136.