CHARLESTON – Going hunting or away for the holidays? West Virginia's attorney general has some tips for you to help you keep your home safe.

Attorney General Patrick Morrisey has provided some tips citizens can follow to help protect against would-be burglars during hunting season and the holidays.

“As seasonal travel starts to ramp up, crime and home break-ins can also begin to rise,” Morrisey said in a statement. “One of the best things you can do before going hunting or leaving for a Thanksgiving trip is to make your house seem as though it is still being lived in even if you are gone.”

Morrisey provided the following tips to keep your home safe while you are away for the holidays:

• Do not broadcast your holiday plans on social media sites such as Facebook and Twitter or on your home voicemail.


• If you have a neighbor or person nearby you can trust, ask them to keep an eye on things while you are away and collect the newspapers and mail so they don’t pile up.


• Make sure that all doors and windows are locked before leaving.


• Use light timers to create the appearance that someone is home.


• Keep your valuables safe and locked away securely.

“Spending time with friends and family is one of the best parts about this season,” Morrisey said. “By taking the time to secure your home before leaving, you can prevent yourself from becoming a victim of a home break-in.

"The last thing you want to do during the holidays is have to fix damage to your home or replace lost valuables."