As we usher in the spring break months, our thoughts turn to sun, surf, relaxation ... and on too many occasions, burglary. We're often in so much hurry to pack up and catch the next flight out that we leave our homes vulnerable. We've all seen the house down the street that might as well have a sign out front that reads, "WE'RE GONE. COME ON IN." That's the house with multiple newspapers piling up out front, with mail clogging the mailbox, and with the porch lights blazing in broad daylight. Skilled thieves, however, are wise to a few other "we're not home" signs of which you may not even be aware. Before you leave town, make sure you do an inventory of your house. It won't take long, and it will do much more for your stress level than a week in the Caribbean.

Lock everything. This sounds obvious, but you'd be surprised just how many residents forget to lock up their homes completely. The front door and all of the windows are just the beginning. Check those windows to make sure the latches are closed all the way, and draw the curtains closed. Bolt your doors completely, and if your home contains any sliding glass doors, place a dowel inside the track to prevent the door from being forced open if it contains a flimsy or broken latch.

Stop your mail. How many of us have forgotten to do this? And it's the most obvious sign that there's nobody home. Make a two-minute phone call to the post office, and stop your mail. Call the newspaper, and stop delivery. Or call up your trusted neighbors and ask them to pick up your mail and newspapers while you're gone. That way, you've notified someone you trust of your absence (ask them to keep an eye on things while you're out, and to report any suspicious activity). Also, if an intruder has his eye on your home, any activity he spots from your neighbors as they collect your mail and newspapers may fool him into believing that somebody is there, thus convincing him to search elsewhere for a vacant home.

Leave your lights on ... within reason. It's a good idea to leave your lights on inside the house -- a lamp strategically located near the front window, for example. That's a convincing sign that someone's home. But porch lights left on during the daytime are an obvious sign that nobody's paying attention to the house. They're often an open invitation to intruders. If you want to leave some outdoor lights on, place them on a timer. Thomas Kraeutler, a professional home inspector and president of HomeChek of New Jersey, Inc., recommends purchasing at least two plug-in timers and setting them up to run on different cycles. For example, set one light to come on in your living room from dusk until 11 p.m., and then leave another light on in the bedrooms from about 9 p.m. until 1 a.m. That schedule should provide the illusion of activity in your home during the prime hours intruders often strike.

Let the police know you're leaving town. The majority of local police departments encourage residents to call and notify them when they're leaving town. They'll take down your information (such as what cars are remaining on your property while you're gone), place you on a "vacant house list," and will make periodic drives down your street while you're away. If, while they're driving by, they notice any unfamiliar cars or suspicious activity, they'll enter your home to investigate.

Turn off electricity. Even the most benign appliances -- toasters, televisions, stereos, and more -- could spark an electrical fire in your home, turning your vacation into a nightmare. Kraeutler recommends unplugging all small appliances and -- for extra insurance -- turning off all nonessential circuit breakers. Essential circuits, of course, should be left running; those include your refrigerator, smoke detectors, lights and furnace.

Leave the heat on. Leave your thermostat no lower than 60 degrees while you're gone in order to prevent frozen pipes and subsequent floods, or leaky radiators, which can cause significant damage to your home.

Turn the water off. Kraeutler advises that home owners turn their water off at the main valve in order to prevent leaks should a frozen pipe or broken hose occur. If you're leaving town for a short period -- say, a three-day weekend -- and anticipate some cold weather while you're gone, leave your faucets on a slow drip, and wrap your pipes in towels to keep them warm and insulated. If you're feeling particular ambitious, you could "winterize" your home by installing antifreeze and/or draining all of your pipes, but Kraeutler says this work usually isn't necessary unless you're leaving town for several months. If you have winterized your home, however, be sure to leave your heat on at around 55 degrees to stave off moisture accumulation, which can cause wallpaper to fall off and doors to buckle.

There's nothing worse than finding your vacation cut short by a home disaster. The above-mentioned steps are mini insurance policies that will not only protect your home, but will also ensure you of a relaxing trip and a pleasant return home.