When you leave for vacation, who looks out for your home?

The Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department “Volunteers on Patrol” program will provide free vacation checks on empty residences here in Santa Clarita and in other locations in Los Angeles County. Just call the local sheriff’s office to request this service.

Patrol certified volunteers work at sheriff’s stations and assist deputies in patrolling the community and helping to keep an eye on your home.

The volunteers will check periodically on your home while you are away. This includes checking all doors and windows, removing fliers from your doorstep and gathering newspapers from the driveway and placing them out of view.

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They will inspect your vehicle(s) in the driveway to check for any damage or vandalism.

If the volunteers notice a crime in progress, a broken window or an open door, deputies will be immediately notified and will respond to the residence to investigate. However, the volunteers are not responsible for watering the lawn or feeding your pets.

Any obvious non-crime related problems discovered by the volunteers, such as sprinklers not shutting off, will lead them to will contact the emergency contact person you provide to the sheriff and the volunteers will advise your contact of the situation.

The volunteers respond in a marked sheriff’s “Volunteers on Patrol” cars that are intended to aid in deterring crime in the area.

Please note that, if you return from vacation early, the sheriff requires that you notify its office to cancel the vacation check immediately to avoid any unnecessary visits from their deputies.

This is a free service made possible by volunteers from the community who partner with local sheriff’s deputies.

If you are planning to leave town and need someone to check on your home, contact the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s station at (661) 255-1121 or click here and request a vacation check online.