MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP - With the holiday weekend and spring break just around the corner, many families are finding themselves out of town for extended periods of time.

Vacations provide burglars plenty of time to break into your home. Have a neighbor park cars in your driveway, put outside lights on a timer and notify the police department of your whereabouts in case of an emergency. Luckily Meridian Township offers free property checks by trusted officers.

"That additional attention to your particular home and in the neighborhood, we feel will deter criminals from patrolling and prowling those neighborhoods looking for homes that they can break into," said
Meridian Township Police Department Lt. Greg Frenger.

Lt. Frenger says typically higher crime rates occur during the holidays, but it's never a bad idea to take several precautions.

A property check request form is available on Meridian Township website if you would like an officer to keep a watchful eye on your residence while you're away.

Setting up a neighborhood watch is always a good idea to keep everyone in your community safe and aware.