December sees a higher-than-average amount of burglaries across the country, and Chapel Hill is no different. December was the third-highest month for reported larceny in Chapel Hill for 2016.

Chapel Hill Police Chief Chris Blue said that’s because properties are particularly vulnerable when residents leave town for extended periods over the holidays.

He encouraged folks to secure their homes while their away during winter holidays, and to participate in Chapel Hill’s Home-Check program. Sign-up and police will check up on your property while you’re away, just provide a few details about your home.

“Leaving lights on or not? Is your mail stopped? Is your newspaper stopped? All things that would be useful for us to know if we were to go check up on your property,” Blue said.

Home-checks have been an effective tool in police efforts to curb property theft, he said, in part because an increasing amount of residents are participating in the program.

“We tend to see a decreasing amount in break-ins over the years. And those that are occurring, we tend to be discovering them more quickly.”

The sign-up form needs to be printed and returned to Chapel Hill Police by mail or to the department’s front desk.

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