DENISON, TX-- Denise McCraw takes her neighborhood watch job very seriously.

"I mean, we care about our home and we care about protecting it. And the police officers cannot be here 24/7, but all the neighbors here can."

She said since her neighborhood formed their watch group, she doesn't worry about her house if her family leaves for the weekend.

McCraw said the most important thing you can do is to let your neighbors know where you are and when you'll be gone.

"Everybody knows everybody. We know everybody down the street, we connect, we talk daily, daily. And then when we go out and about we make sure we let everybody know what's going on."

Going on a trip should be relaxing, the last thing people want to worry about is the safety of their homes.

Lt. Mike Eppler, with the Denison Police Department, said to make sure it looks like someone is home, hold your mail and newspapers, and if you are gone an extended period of time make sure your grass is mowed.

Lock your windows and doors. According to the national fire and protection agency, 34% of burglars get in through your front door, in about 60 seconds.

"If you slow them down 20 to 30 seconds they are most likely going to go somewhere else. Bad guys don't want to be seen and they don't want to be heard. If they have to break a window or kick a door down, not saying it won't happen, but they are more than likely to go some where else," Eppler explains.

Police also warn you to avoid posting on any social media that you're leaving town.

"There are too many people that can see that and they know exactly where it is."