Summertime safety is about more than sunblock and lifeguards. This is the time of year when many residents take family vacations and spend a bit more time out and about. As residents are enjoying the weather, attending social functions and traveling, we urge them to take time to think about ways to keep their home and property safe while they are gone.We suggest that residents not announce when they are going away, even for a short trip, on Facebook or any other social media site. Do not post status updates about your vacation while you are still on vacation. We understand how hard this may be, but even just posting a photograph can give away your location, thanks to GPS-based locators embedded in some social media programs. Share the details and photos when you return; we promise that those post-vacation digital “likes” will count just as much. Announcing that you are out of town offers criminals ample notice about when and for how long your home may be empty. The West Essex Tribune purposely omits dates of upcoming weddings from engagement announcements for just this reason; publicizing the date that couples and many of their friends and family members will be attending the ceremony is not a smart idea.Add to your “summertime safety” checklist the obvious things, such as remembering to lock up doors and windows after letting in fresh summer air, turning on an alarm system if you have one, keeping the outside of your house well-lit and making sure that your house number is clearly visible from the street in case emergency personnel need to find your home.Keeping your vehicle safe, or simply keeping your vehicle, is another hot topic for the summer months, given the rash of thefts we’ve seen in recent years. Even though a car that has been parked in the sun for hours can be stifling, it is not a good idea to leave it running in the driveway. While it is an effective way to cool down the interior, it is also a wonderful opportunity for thieves to have easy access to your vehicle. This type of crime has become increasingly common in town over the last few years, and is one that is easily preventable.Thankfully, Livingston residents are not completely on their own. The Livingston Police Department is always working on ways to ensure residents’ safety. The upcoming National Night Out event,
