Police offer tips to consider before closing up the cottage for winter.

Fall has arrived and now is the time for property owners to start considering the closure and winterizing of their cottages.

Cottages and summer homes are most vulnerable to thieves from the week following Thanksgiving to the weeks prior to Victoria Day, especially if the owners are not using them regularly in the fall, winter or spring.

Remember, if there is no one living at it or checking it regularly, the cost of owning a cottage or summer property may include the frustration and irritation of repairing damage and replacing stolen property.

The following list contains some things to consider:

* Pack up and take home all alcohol.

* Don't leave firearms or weapons at the cottage.

* If you are leaving vehicles, make sure they're winterized, secure and disabled. (For snow machines, remove track and hide keys, ensure boats are covered and locked, outboard motors locked and slightly disassembled, ATVs disabled.) Leave nothing on trailers unless it is locked or disabled.

* Leave no valuables at the cottage (electronics, personal items, tools, etc.) unless you're prepared to lose them.

* Designate a year-round contact or key holder for alarms, thefts, weather damage or animal problems, and provide their contact information. These can either be paid to check your cottage regularly or may be friends or neighbours. Your insurance company may give you a deduction if you have a designated local contact that is watching your property.

* Secure your windows and doors -- lose window curtains or blinds and put up shutters to protect interior from marauders (animal and human).

* Record the serial numbers of anything of value left behind. Marking your valuables with a driver's licence number can help deter a thief or aid in recovery.