MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP - With spring break quickly approaching for families, Meridian Township Sergeant Scott Dawson has a few tips to share on how to keep your home and yourself safe this spring break season.

When it comes to your home, if you are going to be leaving your house for spring break, Sgt. Dawson said to let trusted neighbors, or friends know you're going out of town so that way they can watch over your home and collect any mail if necessary. If you're going to be gone for a period of time, Sgt. Dawson said you can also stop your mail. If you have lights with timers on them, you can program them to turn on and off at certain times throughout the day. Sgt. Dawson said the key is to make it look like someone is home.

If you plan on traveling by car to your destination, Sgt. Dawson said to make sure to carry cash on you in case of an emergency. Also bring blankets and a candle for warmth in case you get stranded. Make sure to bring along maps too in case your phone stops working. Also make sure to be awake and alert while driving. Sgt. Dawson said driving tired is just as bad as driving drunk.

Sgt. Dawson also said to watch what you post on social media if you are going on vacation.

"First off, I would suggest if you're going out of town, don't be posting things on social media," Sgt. Dawson said. "That's where a lot of people get in trouble. Wait until you're home. When you're home, post all the videos and pictures you want, talk about stuff, but don't mention you're going out of town. Don't check in somewhere while you're out of town because it's not just, even if you think you have your social media locked down and only friends have it or whatever, there's, as you know, sometimes a friend of a friend who can get access to that. Or, maybe unfortunately the friend is not necessarily someone you should be trusting. Somebody is going to find out that you're not at home because you checked in at Florida, or you told them you're on this flight."

If you are going to be traveling with children, Sgt. Dawson said to not let children out of your sight, however make sure you give them a piece of paper with your name and cell phone written down on it in case they do get separated from you.