Vacation Home Check Program
When Lincoln residents go on vacation, they are invited to take advantage of the “Vacation Check” program, which is designed to protect their home and property. Lincoln’s Police Department (LPD) is expanding this free service as it’s Citizens On Patrol (COP) group grows.
Citizens On Patrol volunteers perform a variety of functions and are on duty seven days a week. Among other duties, several times weekly, COPS volunteers complete a security checklist on each home that has an “active” Vacation Check request on file.
A few of the items on COP’s security checklist include; a physical property inspection to check for unlocked windows or doors and any evidence of forced entry or other suspicious activity. The COP volunteer will look for signs on the property that may convey, “no one is home”, such as accumulating newspapers and door hanger ads. The Citizen On Patrol checks for obvious mechanical malfunctions such as flooding due to broken water lines, etc.
Lieutenant Paul Shelgren of the Lincoln Police Department feels one of the main reasons that most crime, and specifically home break-ins, have decreased is because of the COP’s Vacation Check program and having more volunteers out on patrol in the city.
Many citizens have written letters of appreciation to the Lincoln Police Department for the Vacation Check program.
One appreciative Lincoln resident wrote, “Thank you for your letter listing the times our home was checked during the two weeks we were in Europe. We appreciate this service provided by the city and will most likely use it again. Peace of mind makes it nice to live in Lincoln.”
Another grateful Lincoln resident wrote, “Please convey our deep appreciation to the Police and COP’s for the random checks on our home. The program adds a tremendous dimension of security when we travel for significant periods of time.”
The 2005 statistics demonstrate the success of the Vacation Check Program. The Lincoln Police Department had 514 Vacation Check requests submitted and as a result, 5,865 on-site home security vacation checks were completed.
Lincoln residents can obtain this free service by completing and submitting a Vacation Check Request form in advance of their vacation.
