SARPY COUNTY, Neb. — When people head out and leave their homes unattended for the holidays, many take extra steps to make their homes safe.
"If somebody's leaving their home for a period of time it's always a good idea to leave lights or have your mail stopped. Maybe have a neighbor or a friend pick up your mail for you," Lieutenant Matt Core with Sarpy County Sheriff's Office said.
But the Sarpy County Sheriff's Office offers to do more with a program called Vacation Watch.
"If a citizen signs up for it, they provide us with quite a bit of information about things that should be going on in the home so deputies have something to look for when they show up," Lieutenant Core said.
All you have to do is fill out an application online, state how many days you're leaving and the details of your home. Deputies will check up on the house every day while you're away.
"It gives them an added sense of security hopefully and has an extra set of eyes checking on their house," Lieutenant Core said.
Katherine Kelly, who is married to a KMTV photographer, uses the service when they leave town for vacation. They feel safer knowing that law enforcement is looking out for their home.
"When you're away form home, unless you have a security system or you have cameras, and even then you don't have the ability to act. You can't do anything if you're away from the house," Kelly said.
Signing up is easy and the program is offered year round, although it increases in popularity around the holidays.
"There's not any requirement other than that you need to be out of town," Lieutenant Core said.
