The Cherokee County Sheriff's Office reported several additional burglaries last week in the wake of a very busy weekend of handling break-in calls.

Four more burglaries were added to the police blotter last Wednesday and Thursday, while 11 were reported from last Friday to Tuesday.

According to police reports, two of the latest burglaries targeted storage buildings on properties in the 100 block of Mabry Lane and the 100 block of McEntire Road in Blacksburg. The other two burglaries reported since Wednesday included the break-in of a Foster Lake Road, Blacksburg, home and the break-in of a Cherokee Avenue convenience store.

While most of the burglaries have targeted locations other than residences, insurance professionals say there are some steps homeowners can take to better protect their homes, especially during the summer vacation season when they might be away.

David Rogers, an exclusive agent for Allstate, says homeowners who plan to be away from home should put lights on timers, and make sure they turn on and off at appropriate times, to make the home look occupied.

An alarm system can be a major deterrent as well, Rogers said, and insurance discounts are often available for homeowners who have alarm systems.

You also want to be careful with mail and newspaper deliveries by having them stopped or picked up by a trusted neighbor or friend so the buildup of paperwork doesn't tip off a thief to an empty home.

Insurance professionals also suggest you can have a trusted neighbor or friend park their vehicle in your driveway while you're away, once again to give your home the appearance of being occupied.

While it won't deter break-ins, Rogers said homeowners should conduct a home inventory to document all of their possessions in writing and on video. Such inventories can help you pick up the pieces and ease recovery in the event of a disaster. Rogers said the home inventory should include the model number and serial numbers of your possessions and that it's best to store the home inventory in a safe location, preferably away from your home.