TERRIBLE. YEAH NOT BAD AT THAT. ALL RIGHT. MANY PEOPLE ARE GOING OUT OF TOWN FOR THE HOLIDAYS, AND THEY’LL WANT TO LOCK UP TO KEEP THE BURGLARS AWAY. OF COURSE, FOR SOME EXTRA SECURITY, SOME LOCAL POLICE DEPARTMENTS ARE OFFERING PROGRAMS FOR OFFICERS. CHECK ON YOUR HOME. WESH 2 NEWS SUNRISE ANCHOR MEREDITH MCDONOUGH HAS THE STEPS TO KEEP YOU SAFE. WE ALL MAKE SURE THE DOORS ARE LOCKED, WINDOWS ARE SECURED, AND THE ALARM IS ON. WHEN WE LEAVE HOME. BUT THERE’S AN EXTRA LAYER OF SECURITY YOU CAN CALL ON DURING THE HOLIDAY TRAVEL SEASON. FLAGLER COUNTY SHERIFF SAYS HIS TEAM OFFERS THE VACATION HOUSE CHECK PROGRAM. RESIDENTS CAN GET UP TO 20 HOUSE WATCH CHECKS PER YEAR AT NO COST. TRAIN CITIZENS ON PATROL VOLUNTEERS WILL INSPECT THE EXTERIOR OF THE HOME AND THEN CALL A DEPUTY IF ANYTHING LOOKS OFF. WE WON’T PHYSICALLY TOUCH ANYTHING BECAUSE WE DON’T WANT TO SET AN ALARM OFF, BUT WE WILL LOOK TO MAKE SURE THAT THE WINDOWS ARE NOT BROKEN. SCREENS ARE NOT CUT. THERE’S NO PRIMARKS, YOU KNOW, ON THE DOOR, THINGS LIKE THAT. SO WHAT? WHAT THEY WILL LOOK FOR IS ANYTHING THEY CAN SEE VISUALLY, IF ANYTHING IS SUSPICIOUS, THEN THEY HAVE A DEPUTY SHERIFF RESPOND. SEVERAL CENTRAL FLORIDA LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES OFFER FREE HOUSE WATCH OR VACATION CHECK PROGRAMS, INCLUDING SEMINOLE, BREVARD COUNTY, AND YOU CAN GO ONLINE AND FILL OUT A FORM TO REQUEST THE EXTRA SET OF EYES. THE ORANGE COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE DOESN’T HAVE A FORMAL PROGRAM. YOU CAN ALWAYS CALL THEIR NON-EMERGENCY LINE AND REQUEST A CHECK. AND THAT GOES FOR VOLUSIA COUNTY AND SEVERAL LOCAL POLICE DEPART
Central Florida police offer free home checks for holiday travelers
Updated: 6:45 PM EST Dec 19, 2025
As many people prepare to leave town for the holidays, several Central Florida police departments are offering free programs to help keep homes secure by providing extra security checks.Flagler County Sheriff Rick Staly said his team provides the Vacation House Check Program, allowing residents to receive up to 20 house-watch checks per year at no cost. Trained Citizens on Patrol volunteers inspect the exterior of homes and call a deputy if anything appears suspicious.”We won’t physically touch anything. We don’t want to set an alarm off. We will make sure the windows aren’t broken, screens are not cut, no pry marks on the door, anything they can see visually or anything suspicious, then they have a deputy sheriff respond,” Staly said.Several Central Florida law enforcement agencies, including those in Seminole and Brevard counties, offer similar free house watch or vacation check programs. Residents can request these services by filling out an online form. While the Orange County Sheriff’s Office does not have a formal program, residents can call its nonemergency line to request a home check.
CENTRAL FLORIDA, USA —
As many people prepare to leave town for the holidays, several Central Florida police departments are offering free programs to help keep homes secure by providing extra security checks.
Flagler County Sheriff Rick Staly said his team provides the Vacation House Check Program, allowing residents to receive up to 20 house-watch checks per year at no cost. Trained Citizens on Patrol volunteers inspect the exterior of homes and call a deputy if anything appears suspicious.
“We won’t physically touch anything. We don’t want to set an alarm off. We will make sure the windows aren’t broken, screens are not cut, no pry marks on the door, anything they can see visually or anything suspicious, then they have a deputy sheriff respond,” Staly said.
Several Central Florida law enforcement agencies, including those in Seminole and Brevard counties, offer similar free house watch or vacation check programs. Residents can request these services by filling out an online form. While the Orange County Sheriff’s Office does not have a formal program, residents can call its nonemergency line to request a home check.