Tampa, Florida, residents who are going on vacation can enjoy their trip with fewer worries, thanks to the Tampa Police Department (TPD).
The TPD has instituted what it calls the ‘Vacation Watch Program’, a free service the police provide to residents of Seminole Heights, a Tampa neighborhood. People going on vacation have the option of contacting the TPD and asking to use the Vacation Watch Program. Officers on patrol then check these houses as part of their normal duties. If they find something that indicates the house is empty, such as newspaper piling up, they will move them to a less obvious spot. They also check for open doors and windows and, at least once, have been credited with foiling a burglary in progress.
During a routine check, the officer saw a sliding back door open with items stacked near it. Apparently, the burglar was putting items near the door so they would be easy to grab when he came back later. The officer notified the homeowners, who called a security company immediately and hired guards to remain on site until they returned home. Although the police did not apprehend the culprit, the call to the homeowners enabled officers to put measures in effect that protected them from loss.
The program effectively puts more marked police cars into the neighborhood, which deters crime. The Tampa Police could work with flyer printers to create material to be distributed throughout Seminole Heights, describing the program to residents.
