Vacation Watch Program
The Nolan County Sheriff’s Office offers the Vacation Watch Program to provide residents with an added sense of security while they are away from home for vacation or other travel.
Through this program, the Nolan County Sheriff’s Office Patrol Division will conduct periodic checks of your residence while you are out of town. Patrol Deputies will check the exterior of the property to help ensure the residence appears secure and to identify any obvious signs of suspicious activity, burglary, or other unusual circumstances.
If Deputies discover anything out of the ordinary during a Vacation Watch check, the emergency contact provided for the residence will be notified when appropriate.
Requirements and Limitations
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Vacation Watch requests must be for a minimum of two (2) consecutive days and may not exceed twenty-one (21) consecutive days. The residence must be completely unoccupied throughout the entire requested Vacation Watch period. Any interruption in the requested timeframe will be considered a separate Vacation Watch request. For example, if a homeowner leaves town, returns to the residence for a weekend, and then leaves again, the periods of absence will be considered separate vacations and must be submitted as two (2) separate Vacation Watch requests.
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Citizens requesting a Vacation Watch for a period exceeding twenty-one (21) consecutive days will be advised that the Nolan County Sheriff’s Office does not routinely provide Vacation Watch services beyond the twenty-one-day maximum. Vacation Watch services will be approved for no more than three (3) non-consecutive periods of up to twenty-one (21) days each during a calendar year without prior approval from the Patrol Sergeant.
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Vacation Watch services are intended for residences that are regularly occupied. Vacation Watches will not be approved for vacant residences that have been left unoccupied for extended periods of time, abandoned properties, or residences that have been vacated by the homeowner and are listed for sale.
If you would like to request a Vacation Watch and meet the program requirements, please complete and submit the form below. You will receive confirmation once your request has been received and processed.
It is the responsibility of the homeowner or resident to notify the Nolan County Sheriff’s Office if the Vacation Watch needs to be extended or if there are changes to the dates originally requested.
Important Information
Vacation Watch checks are conducted by the Nolan County Sheriff’s Office Patrol Division. The frequency and timing of residence checks will depend on patrol availability and call volume. Active calls for service and emergency situations will always take priority, and therefore, Vacation Watch checks cannot be guaranteed at specific times or frequencies.
The Vacation Watch Program is intended to provide an additional level of observation while residents are away; however, it does not guarantee that a residence will be checked on a specific schedule or prevent criminal activity from occurring.
Tips to Remember Before You Leave
Before leaving town, take the following steps to help keep your home secure and reduce the appearance that your residence is unoccupied:
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Make your home appear occupied. Avoid leaving your residence looking obviously empty or unattended.
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Stop or manage mail and deliveries. Place a hold on your mail and pause package or other deliveries, or arrange for a trusted friend or neighbor to collect them regularly.
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Keep window coverings in their normal positions. Avoid closing all blinds and shades in an unusual manner that may indicate no one is home.
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Use automatic light timers. Set timers on several interior lights and use varying schedules to create the appearance of normal activity inside the residence.
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Maintain the exterior of your property. Arrange for someone to mow the lawn, care for landscaping, or perform other routine maintenance while you are away.
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Leave a key with a trusted person. Provide access to someone you trust in case of an emergency or unexpected situation.
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Provide emergency contact information. Give a trusted family member, friend, or neighbor your departure and return dates, travel itinerary, and reliable telephone numbers where you can be reached in an emergency.
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Secure all doors and windows. Before leaving, ensure that all exterior doors, windows, gates, and the garage are properly closed and locked.
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Remove garage door openers from vehicles left outside. Do not leave garage door remotes inside vehicles parked outside your residence.
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Avoid publicly announcing your travel plans. Do not share details about your vacation or travel plans with strangers or unnecessarily disclose when your home will be unoccupied. This includes casual conversations and posts on social media.
Taking these simple precautions can help reduce opportunities for criminal activity and provide additional peace of mind while you are away from home.