Vacation Watch Program in Montgomery and Harris Counties

By Nelda Luce Blair, The Woodlands Township & Sheriff Tommy Gage, Montgomery County

Summer is here and this is a great time to think about a few things to keep you and your neighbors proactive in deterring individuals from criminal activities.

Summer is a time when you and many of your neighbors might be traveling, and the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office and Harris County Constable Precinct #4 can help you if they know when you plan to be away.

Both offer a Vacation Watch program, and it is as simple as placing a phone call letting them know when you will be out of town. Montgomery County residents can request a Vacation Watch from the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office by calling 936-442-7797. Harris County residents can call 281-376-3472 to request a Vacation Watch with Harris County Constable, Precinct #4.

Make sure you have timed lights, close your garage doors, turn on alarms, stop newspaper deliveries and lock your doors and windows.

If you do not keep the porch light on at night because you are concerned about the cost of electricity, consider installing a motion detector light, which is an effective but less expensive way to provide light. But no matter what method you use to get the lights on, the electricity will be a lot less expensive than the cost of repairing a broken door or window and replacing any items stolen by a thief. In fact, former thieves have told law enforcement that when choosing homes to burglarize, they would avoid homes with good outdoor lighting.

Summer is also a time when school is out and creates an opportunity for criminal mischief. Captain Andrew Eason who is in charge of the Sheriff’s Office in The Woodlands urges individuals to report suspicious activities immediately.

“Residents know what is normal activity and what is not normal activity,” he said. “We like to know what is happening in the neighborhoods and rely on individuals to let us know. If you are in immediate need, always call 9-1-1. But if you see something out of the ordinary that you are questioning, please give us a call.”

Suspicious activity can also be reported at the telephone numbers above. When you see suspicious activity, please make a note of the following:

· For vehicles: make, model and license plate
· For individuals: clothing, hair color, age, sex, height, weight, tattoos

Everyone working together can make a big difference. For more tips on how you can make your home safer, contact The Woodlands Township Neighborhood Services Department at neighbor@thewoodlandstownship-tx.gov or 281-210-3800.

Finally, if you have information about a crime, call Crime Stoppers at 1.800.392.STOP (7867) or call the Sheriff’s Office directly. Crime Stopper Tips are anonymous and can also be made through the Montgomery County Crime Stoppers web page at www.montgomerycountycrimestoppers.org.