LAKE COUNTY – With summer arriving, it's vacation time for many residents and families, and it's a good idea to have someone checking on your home while you're away.

Lake County Sheriff's Office volunteers provide the Vacation Check Program.

Subject to accessibility, residents in unincorporated Lake County may request regular checks of their homes for defined and reasonable periods of time while they are away, according to Capt. James Bauman.

While checks may be performed by deputy sheriffs, they are typically conducted by trained sheriff’s volunteers, he said.

Bauman said vacation checks entail a visual check of structures and property, ensuring that vehicles, gates, lighting and the general security of the home is intact and in accordance with the request.

Whenever a vacation check reveals something suspicious or otherwise out of place, volunteers are trained to back out of the immediate area and request a patrol deputy be dispatched to investigate further, according to Bauman.

Bauman said there is no cost associated with requesting a vacation check and the requester need only complete a basic form describing the duration of the checks, description and access to the property, vehicles, alarms, pets, and anyone authorized to be on the property or acting as agent for the owner.

Anyone interested in requesting a vacation check for their home may contact the South County Substation at 707-994-6433, Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to noon, or the sheriff’s main office in Lakeport, 707-262-4200, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.