While the holidays should be a time to relax and enjoy time off with family and friends, this time can be disrupted by burglaries and theft. This type of crime increases every year
during the holidays as thieves view this time as an opportunity to burglarize your home. Unlimited Security would like to help you keep your holidays joyous and happy by sharing with you some tips from the Crime Doctor on how to prevent holiday break-ins.
THINK ABOUT WHERE YOU PLACE YOUR CHRISTMAS TREE.
Burglars are always looking for the easiest ways to get into a home. Putting your Christmas tree in your front window where it can be seen from the street may be traditional for you, but it is an open invitation to thieves. They can easily smash your front window to take any gifts you have put under the tree.
HAVE AN EXTERIOR OUTLET INSTALLED FOR OUTDOOR HOLIDAY LIGHTS.
Criminals like to enter through unlocked doors or windows, and they look out for entryways that are not secured. When you run your outdoor holiday lights through a window, you cannot secure that window. By hiring an electrician or a handyman to install an inexpensive outdoor outlet to plug your holiday lights into, you will not have to worry about that unsecured window.
DO NOT HIDE SPARE KEYS.
Thieves know to look for spare keys hidden under doormats, in flower pots, and above the door ledges. Instead of hiding your spare key, give it to a trusted neighbor or friend when you go out of town.
DO NOT ADVERTISE BEING AWAY FROM HOME.
When you are traveling for the holidays, be careful of what you post on social media sites like FaceBook and Twitter. You also want to watch what you put on your message on your answering machine. Be as discreet as possible when you go out of town to keep burglars from discovering the possibility of your vacant house.
BE CAREFUL WHEN THROWING AWAY EMPTY GIFT BOXES.
When you stack up the boxes of your holiday gifts by the trash, burglars will know exactly what kind of merchandise is in your home. Nothing excites thieves more than seeing computer boxes and stereo packaging. Break down or cut up all of these boxes to best conceal them from burglars. Never give these criminals any ideas of what they can steal.
Of course, making it look like someone is always in your house with light and TV timers and installing a security system are also great ways to prevent holiday break-ins. If you would like to learn more burglary prevention tips, contact us at Unlimited Security to find out how to be prepared this holiday season.