Do you wish there was a way for someone – the good guys – to watch over your home when your family isn’t there, like away on vacation?
The Kissimmee Police Department will soon offer that, called the Vacation Watch Program.
In a step up from the traditional neighborhood watch model, residents of single-family homes in the city will be able to notify police when their homes will be vacant during vacation periods of three to 31 days. Those residents can complete a registration form online, providing information that will help officers monitor their property while they are away. That information, the city says, will be reviewed and passed on to the Community Engagement Unit, then distributed to the officers who will then patrol those areas for up to 30 days.
Register at kissimmee.gov/vacationwatch, where resident can get more information or fill out the Vacation Watch request form. Of note, those requesting service must do so at least 14 days before departing, and the service is a form of “keeping an eye on the place,” and doesn’t include pet care, plant watering, or mail or newspaper retrieval.
The city says the program was created to provide innovative ways to serve the community and prevent crime.
"The Vacation Watch Program is intended to give residents peace of mind while they are on vacation," KPD Police Chief Betty Holland said. "The information provided can be crucial in preventing crime or reaching a local emergency contact if needed."
