When you leave home for a holiday to visit friends or family, don't advertise to thieves that you're away. Burglars look for dark houses that stay that way, day after day. Use timers to make it look like you're at home. Use more than one, and program them to turn lights and radios on and off in different rooms at different times. Leave a car parked in the driveway. Arrange to have your lawn mowed regularly. Ask a neighbor to gather mail. Stop newspaper delivery. Don't let your answering machine do you in. Crooks love it when you say, "Hi, the Wilson's are away." Let the police know you've gone. Ask them to drive by and check from time to time. Don't let your house give you away when you're away. And that's the On The House tip for today.