With school starting in a couple of weeks, a lot of folks are leaving on that last summer getaway and criminals know it.

The biggest tip to keep your home safe when you're gone is don't let your house look unoccupied.

According to the latest statistics from citydata.com, there were 585 burglaries in Delray in 2006. The following are a few ideas to help make your home less of a target.

*Obviously lock your doors and windows, have lights that turn on and off automatically in different rooms at night, motion detector lights outside and if you have a security system, arm it.

*Stand outside in both the front and back of your house at night when the lights are on. See anything anything in there you'd like? You get the idea. Ask a trusted neighbor or friend to partially open window coverings during the day and close them at night.

*Don't leave valuable (electronics, jewelry) out in plain sight. Put as much as you can in your safe deposit box - jewelry, extra credit cards, keys, etc. Thieves have wish lists too and you don't want to be the one filling it for them.

*Turn the garage door opener off while you're gone.

*If there is a car in your driveway, ask someone to move it to a different place everyday so it looks like someone is using it. Otherwise ask a neighbor if they'd park their car in your driveway part of the time while you're gone.

*Turn the ringer off your phone. Some burglars call a house (they're can often find your phone number.) If no one answers, that's all the invitation they need.

*A police officer told me, don't cancel your paper...he said have someone pick it up. Have someone pick up your mail daily as well and any packages that may show up along with the flyers that get left on your front door/porch.

*Ask a neighbor to put a bag of his trash in your trash container on trash day and put it out for pick-up.

*If your backyard is fenced, post a Beware of Dog sign on the gates.

*Turn your radio to a talk station and leave it on loud enough to be heard outside. Put it on a timer.

*Trim your hedges and plants so no one can hide behind them.

*It's too late for this year but consider landscaping around doors and windows with plants with plants that have thorns. The more thorns the better - Crown of Thorns, Spanish Bayonet - but that's another blog.

*Turn off the water before you leave. That has nothing to do with being robbed but coming home to a house that has been flooded would not be fun either.

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