Season’s Greetings from the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Department!

The following information is taken from the December, 2011 Behind the Badge Newsletter

Click to view this little ditty from the Colorado Crime Prevention Association, and have a happy and safe holiday season.

“Home Alone” Vacation Checks

Police nationwide have noted two growing trends in recent years: a social-media-driven party scene that can quickly spin out of control, and a rise in jewelry and prescription drug thefts.

We’ve seen these trends collide in Jeffco in the form of teen parties hosted while parents are out of town. Sometimes, teens who intend to host a small gathering or manageable party end up with more than they can handle. The party location is shared via Facebook and text messaging, and suddenly there are an overwhelming number of partygoers, many of them strangers. Later, the teen or parents notice valuable items stolen from the home, and parents find themselves filing police reports upon their return.

One of the many services the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office provides to its citizens is the “vacation check.” A vacation check involves deputies conducting routine patrols around a home while the homeowner is out of town, upon request. They look for anything amiss, and their presence can help deter would-be criminals.

If you are planning to leave your teen at home while you travel, you may consider requesting a vacation check for your residence. When you let the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office know the dates of your travel; phone numbers for you, your teens and an emergency contact; and some other basic information about your home, our deputies will then conduct extra patrols of your home and can intervene more effectively in an unsafe situation or emergency. Vacation checks can provide some peace of mind for you, while preventing crime in our communities.

For more information or to request a vacation check, call the Sheriff’s Office at 303-277-0211 or contact your child’s school resource officer.