As many people prepare to travel for the Christmas holiday, law enforcement officials are sharing tips to help people keep their homes safe while they are on vacation.

According to law enforcement, the number one way to keep your home safe is to prepare in advance. Oneonta Police Chief Charles Clifton advises people to let their neighbors know to keep a lookout for any suspicious activity while they are away.

Some other tips to help keep your home safe while you are on vacation are:

• Do not on social media about your trip until you return
• Lock all doors and garages
• Make sure you don’t have any packages delivered while you’re away
• Check your security cameras often

Chief Clifton adds that people should not hesitate to contact their local police department to let them know that they will be away so that they can check in at their house. He recommends that people take a proactive approach in order to protect their homes.

“It only takes ten or fifteen seconds to open a door, reach into a car, and grab a purse. It only takes a few minutes to walk into a house that’s unlocked,” says Clifton. “Usually, once they start targeting you, if they’re successful, they’ll return. I tell my guys that all the time, once we have a little rash of thefts or car thefts, they’re coming back because we didn’t catch them.”