Going on Vacation? The Police Have Got Your Back (Yard)

As the summer winds down and people leave for last-minute get-aways, it's a good idea to remember to notify friends and neighbors so they can help keep your home safe from burglars. But residents of College Park have one other group who can help keep watch over their homes while they are away: the Prince George's County Police Department.

The department will provide premise checks to Prince George's County residents, including College Park, free of charge. Any resident of the city can use this service for everything from overnighters to extended stays away, according to Lt. James Keleti.

Once a premise check is requested, county officers will visit a resident's home to inspect the property, walking around to check for broken windows, suspicious vehicles and other signs of a possible intruder. Any suspicious activity is addressed, recorded and relayed to the property owner.

Currently, the department receives only a few requests for premise checks each month, Keleti said. Most of these requests are from residents who wish to have their property monitored while on extended vacations.

Residents who request to have their property monitored are asked to provide a timeframe for their absence and emergency contact information, as well as a list of people and vehicles authorized to be on the property during their time away. In the event of an emergency, officers will contact residents and notify them of the situation as soon as possible.

Premise checks are not, however, meant to be a 24-hour housesitting service. The checks are performed during an officer's downtime on his or her shift, and the Prince George's Police Department cannot guarantee the prevention of break-ins nor assume any extra responsibility in the event of an invasion.

Residents who want to take advantage of this service can contact local law enforcement or Bob Ryan of College Park Code Enforcement at bryan@collegeparkmd.gov.