How to protect your property while on vacation

MUKILTEO, Wash. -- As people start planning for spring vacations, many will likely leave their homes unguarded, but police say there are many things you can do to protect your home and valuables.

Kim will never forget the time thieves broke into her home.

"It was terrifying, actually, because that house was a little more vulnerable as far as the window in the front."

Now she takes extra steps when she goes out of town.

Officer Colt Davis, with the Mukilteo Police Department, gave us a tour of a home. He showed us what a criminal is looking for when they target their next victim.

Bushes and trees should be trimmed back so a criminal has no place to stay out of sight.  Motion-sensing lights are also a great deterrent.

Davis said, "This is kind of a dead zone back here. You`re hoping that the lights, when they go off, it alerts your neighbors who are your friends. Hey, there`s a light going off -- who is back there? Whats going on?"

Blinds in your home should remain closed and valuables should be out of sight.

Exterior doors should also have two locks instead of just one.

Police also say automatic timers can work effectively. Use multiple timers for different times of the day to give the appearance that you're home when you are away on vacation.