HELOISE Play it safe if you'll be gone for the holidays

Dear Readers: Recently, Sgt. Billy Holbert, retired from the San Antonio Police Department, was a guest on my nationally syndicated radio show. He shared some great safety information, and I wanted to outline a section about what to do when you leave on a holiday vacation or plan to be away from home for a while.
The standard thing that most people know is to have their mail and newspaper stopped. Here are a few more ideas that are equally important that you might not have considered:
ULeave your answering machine on with just a generic message. Do not say that you are gone or that you went on vacation.
UPlace timers on the television and lights in different rooms in the house to go on at different times of the day.
UHave a neighbor push your trash can out on trash day to give the appearance of someone being home.
UHave a friend or neighbor park his or her car in your driveway at different times throughout the day.
You can never be too cautious! Heloise
Dear Heloise: Here is a helpful hint for the owners of cellular phones. So far, my father-in-law and my wife lost theirs (neither one had an address sticker on them). My suggestion would be to put an address label on a cell phone. It does not guarantee that you'll get it back, but it increases the chances. Rainer F. Steinbauer, via e-mail
Dear Heloise: We recently had a family wedding that my daughter could not attend -- she lives 2,000 miles away.
So, to surprise her, I got a priority-mail box from the post office (they are free), and in it I put a wedding program, mints, a favor and napkins. She was thrilled with her "reception in a box." Barbara Stringer, Washburn, Ill.
This is a lovely idea and can apply to showers, birthdays and holidays for those who live far away. Heloise
Dear Heloise: I've been meaning to write you about this since the handy elasticized covers hit the stores years ago. These products look like shower caps (small, medium and large) you can put on bowls, casseroles, leftovers or anything else to seal in the flavor and freshness.
I actually use them as shower caps (the large size), and they're great when you need to travel. There's no need to buy shower caps ever again. Smaller sizes would be great for children of any age. Debra in South Carolina
Dear Heloise: By chance, I discovered a way to get off gum that is stuck to my dental work. I put a bit of cooking oil on a rag and rubbed it on the gum on my teeth. This worked perfectly. I am sure many readers can use this hint. Jackie H., Sun City, Calif.
XSend a money-saving or timesaving hint to Heloise, P.O. Box 795000, San Antonio, Texas 78279-5000, or you can fax it to 210-HELOISE or e-mail it to Heloise@Heloise.com. I can't answer your letter personally but will use the best hints received in my column.
King Features Syndicate