California Police Department Checks Homes for Residents on Vacation

Residents of Modesto, California can fill out forms to initiate a free home check by the local Modesto Police Department. The department routinely checks on residents' homes when they're on vacation to curb theft.

The police department trained Volunteers in Police Service (VIPS) to check on homes of residents on vacation.

Residents can fill out an online form to request VIPS to perform routine checkups on their home. Security checks are available for residents that are away for 5 – 30 days. A series of questions must be answered to help VIPS perform a proper check.

The questions ask about alarm systems, light timers, animals, pool or landscape services, if cars will be in the driveway and several other questions.

Residents must file the request a week prior to their departure. Approval of the service depends on the availability of volunteers. VIPS will check the home periodically and contact the police department if a break-in occurs or there is suspicious activity in the home.

Modesto Police Department isn't the only department offering home checks for vacationing residents.

Greenfield Police Department announced a vacation home checks program to help curb burglaries.

"Most happen during the daytime hours, whether the residents are at work or out of town on vacation," states Sargent James Pizur.

Residents of Greenfield must call their police department at (414) 761-5330 to let officers know when they're going on vacation.

Police officers will perform checks on the home, windows and doors, and will walk the property daily. The service is at no cost to the resident and is offered for as long as the resident is out of town.

Pleasant Prairie Police Department in Milwaukee also announced a similar service at the end of February. The city's police department performs multiple checks on a home per day with a check at least once per shift. Police officers will walk the property to look for suspicious activity.

The department is relying heavily on home security cameras and systems to help protect residents. The department started a neighborhood camera registry in February that allows residents to register their cameras and home surveillance systems with the police department.

The registry is used to help solve crimes using the neighborhood's network of resident-owned cameras.

The TODAY Show featured SimpliSafe on March 8 during a Home Security Check segment. SimpliSafe offers quick and easy installation, and utilizes a built-in cellular connection to communicate. Pre-programmed sensors help homeowners detect unwanted activity in the home.

SimpliSafe does offer a monitoring service that will contact local police departments if intrusion is detected. The service works alongside police departments to protect residents' homes while they're on vacation.

The Bureau of Justice states that there are 3.7 million burglaries per year on average. North Carolina conducted a study that showed 60% of burglars noted the presence of a home security system when targeting homes.

Police departments working to protect residents' homes in Modesto note that most burglaries occur between 10am and 3pm. Burglars are in the home for less than 10 minutes on average. Only 13.6% of burglars were caught in 2014.