Vacation Watch

"Vacation Watch" is a service provided to the residents of the City of Melbourne while they are out of town. A Volunteer Citizen Officer on Patrol (VCOP) will check the residence periodically to ensure the house is properly secured. A telephone call or email will be sent upon your return to make sure everything was all right.

To request this service, please complete the online form at least one day prior to your departure. Please note that we do not always have enough volunteer officers to provide this service but will do our best to accommodate all requests.  

Before You Leave

It is a fact that almost all types of personal and household crime are highest in the warm months when people spend more time away from home on vacations or are involved in outdoor activities. Avoid becoming part of this statistic by following these suggestions to protect your home, property, and family while you're relaxing and having fun.

• Before you leave, use this checklist to secure your home.
• Make sure your home looks lived in, not empty.
• Stop mail and cancel all deliveries or ask a friend to make daily collections.
• Hide empty garbage cans.
• Leave shades and blinds in normal positions.
• Put an automatic timer on several lights and the radio.
• Have a neighbor keep your property maintained.
• Leave a key with a trusted neighbor.
• Store valuables in a safe deposit box.
• Tell a neighbor you trust your departure and return dates. Supply an itinerary with phone numbers where you can be reached in an emergency.
• Sign up for the Melbourne Police Department's Vacation Watch service. If you are not a City of Melbourne resident, contact your local police department to see if they offer a similar service.
• Lock all windows and doors. Double check basement and garage doors before you leave.