HAWKINSVILLE, Ga. — Residents in Hawkinsville and Pulaski County who are planning to leave town for vacation now have an option to help keep their homes and businesses safe while they’re away.
According to the Pulaski County Sheriff’s Office, the department is now offering a property check service where deputies will check on homes or businesses at the owner’s request.
Sheriff Wayne Wiley said the idea came after the office received a few requests from residents asking deputies to check on their homes while they were out of town.
“Well, we had a couple of requests come in a few months ago, and after doing them, we thought we could just offer this to the public,” Wiley said.
The service allows residents and business owners to submit a request online through the sheriff’s office Facebook page. From there, deputies will have the necessary information about the property before making a check.
“They’ll fill in their information, give their address, and provide particulars about their location where they want checked,” Wiley said. “They can leave a description, like how many vehicles are in the yard, that kind of thing, and let us know what to expect when we arrive on scene to start looking.”
Sheriff Wiley said the service is not only available for homeowners but also for local businesses. He said the program was not created in response to a specific increase in break-ins, but simply as a way to serve the community after receiving requests.
“No, we hadn’t had any calls on that. We just thought after receiving a couple of requests to do this, we’d go ahead and offer it to all Pulaski County residents,” Wiley said.
When deputies respond to a property check, they will perform an exterior check of the home or business, shine lights around the property, and check doors to make sure everything appears secure.
The service is active now, but the sheriff is asking residents to submit requests at least 48 hours in advance. He also encourages homeowners and business owners to take basic safety precautions before leaving town.
“You know, keep your doors locked. If you’ve got cameras, that’s great. It helps us out,” Wiley said.
Sheriff Wiley said the department plans to continue offering the service each year, especially during peak travel times like spring break and summer vacation. Residents interested in the service can submit their request online through the sheriff’s office social media page.
