By Katie Stallcup

Published: May 7, 2008

Unlocked windows. A week’s worth of newspapers in the yard. Knee-high grass. Sure signs that someone is not at home. And that’s just what police want residents to avoid.

With students gone and residents leaving town on vacation, burglaries of residences and student apartments and mobile homes historically increase during the summer months, Auburn police Capt. Tom Stofer said.

To keep valuables safe while they’re away, residents should make their homes as secure and appear as lived-in as possible, he said.

“It sounds so simple, but make sure your doors and windows are locked,” he said. “Burglars are looking for open doors and open windows, an easy target.”

People should do what they can to make their residences look like someone is home. Putting lights and radios on timers or asking a neighbor to leave a car in your driveway helps, he said.

Putting a hold on your mail and newspaper delivery while you’re on vacation keeps it from piling up, which can be a red flag to thieves, he said.

“If you make that home look lived-in … chances are (burglars) may look somewhere else and not look at your place,” Stofer said.

If possible, take small valuable items with you or leave them with a trusted friend.

Asking a neighbor to check in on your home once in a while is a good idea, too, Opelika police Capt. Allan Elkins said.

“Make arrangements ahead of time for someone to cut your lawn … little things like that,” Elkins said. “Know your neighbors … You can have them do a walk-through to make sure things are like they’re supposed to be.”

Stofer said residents could request Auburn police check their homes while they’re away, making sure nothing outside looks unusual.

If residents come home to what looks like a break-in, they should call the police, Stofer said.

“Let us go inside,” he said. “You don’t know if that break-in happened five days ago or five minutes ago, and you certainly wouldn’t want to walk in on someone breaking into your house.”

More than anything, police want residents who stay to keep an eye out for unusual activity, he said.

“Call us,” Stofer said. “We’d much rather come out and find out there’s nothing to it.”