As final exams approach, fall semester comes to an end and a monthlong break from school draws near. But just because students are gone doesn't mean houses and apartments are immune to accidents, break-ins and other safety risks. With that in mind, here are a few last-minute tips students should check off before they leave.

– For the duration of the break, many apartments and houses will be empty. Though they are unoccupied, residences will not be unwatched. For the 20th year the Department of Public Safety is offering the Vacant House Watch program. Through this program, during break DPS officers check on empty residences that have been entered into their registry. The houses that are registered with DPS online or at DPS headquarters, 749 N. 16th St., are monitored during regular patrols.

"On every patrol, officers will stop and check the property of every house registered on the program" said Associate Director of DPS Capt. Russ Shaw.

– DPS reminds students to check the batteries of all smoke detectors to make sure that they are in working order. Detectors should be placed on each level of a residence, including apartment buildings. To keep dust out of smoke detectors so they can function properly, it is important to vacuum them, Shaw said.

"We wouldn't want any tenants to not know of an emergency in the building," Shaw said.

– DPS recommends that students leave their exterior lights on to allow greater visibility to the home's exterior. This makes the house appear occupied and may deter a break-in.

– For the inside of the home, DPS suggests the "lived-in look." To achieve this, stop all newspaper and mail delivery services. Get inexpensive timers to activate lights during the evening hours.

– Shaw also suggested that students take anything of value home with them. In the event of a break-in, DPS will try to get a hold of the residents who have registed for the house watch. For items that will be left in the homes over break, DPS can electronically engrave the owner's driver's license numbers on the property.

In the event that property is stolen, "the numbers on the driver's liscense are more secure and easier to trace," Shaw said. This service is available at no cost to the student, according to Shaw.

– Students thinking of cutting off their heat in effort to cut down the bill should reconsider. Ken Schmidt, maintenance coordinator of Facilities Services, said students should "not turn off the heat. In the event of freezing weather pipes may freeze." Schmidt suggested turning the heat down to about 60 degrees.