The Dubai police recently arrested two men for allegedly breaking into at least 30 houses and stealing about AED10 million worth of cash, jewellery, electronics and other valuable items within a month.

Colonel Khalil Ebarahim Al Mansouri, director of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), said the suspects from Tanzania allegedly broke into houses in Mirdiff, Jumeirah and Bur Dubai areas. All the robberies took place in the morning hours during the month of May.

Following the incident, Dubai police officials have asked residents to register for a free service helping to protect their homes. The program, called “080,” is available on the Dubai police website to all villa residents who are going away on short or long vacations. The police will send patrols every 24 hours to monitor such premises.

The same program has also deployed around 90 police patrols to monitor people in crowded areas to prevent crimes, reports Khaleej Times. According to the police, 200 people have participated in the program, and none has reported a theft.

Along with offering to patrol the police have also issued some basic guidelines to holiday goers, such as instructions to lock all doors and windows, keep valuables in a safe place, turn off lights and taps, and ask relatives to keep an eye on the house during any absence.

While the service offered by the Dubai police seems both easy and convenient for house owners in the city, renting your house during your vacation could be another way of keeping it safe from thieves. There are several websites where you can put up your house up for rent during your vacation, and, if they are interested, you can even swap houses with the renter. Temporarily, of course.

The website Vacation Rentals currently has two owners offering their houses in Dubai, and on VacationFRBO.com, six people have offered their homes for rent during their holidays.