This week I got a call from a friend in Louisiana.  My friend’s sister and her husband were in a very bad accident when, on a four lane highway, an 18 year old male hit their car from behind and both cars rolled.  They will be in the hospital for a while. Their relatives and friends have been posting on Facebook about the accident and the fact that my friends will not be home for some time. On 20 June I got another call telling me that their home had been burglarized.  Someone threw a brick through a window and climbed in. They left with the family silverware and jewelry in one of the pillowcases they took from the linen closet.

Please everyone hear this –  DO NOT POST ON FACEBOOK OR OTHER SOCIAL MEDIA SITES  THAT YOUR HOME WILL BE VACANT FOR EXTENDED PERIODS.  The bad guys look for just such information, just like they read the obituaries to find out who has died and when the funeral is going to be. If you are going to be gone, and the information is public knowledge, you owe it to yourself to also let it be known that there will be someone living at your home until you get back (whether this is true or not). It is also a good idea to let some trusted neighbors know when you will be gone and when you expect to return.