The holiday season is a special time of year for families and friends as well as burglars. For most people its a time for giving and traditions, but for burglars it is an excellent opportunity to break into empty homes and steal the cash, credit cards, gifts, jewelery, electronics, and even identities while the residents have gone over the river and through the woods to visit grandma.
So here are a few home security tips to protect your home and valuables while you are off visiting grandma for the holidays.
* Install and use a home alarm system! The FBI reports that a burglary happens ever 14 seconds and that a home without a security system is 2 to 3 times more likely to be broken into. If your home is broken into, and doesn't have an alarm system thieves are more likely to break in again to steal the newly replaced items.
* Don't openly display your Christmas tree and gifts in the front windows of your house. Items just inside windows are easy to smash and grab.
* Burglars look for occupancy cues like outdoor lights left on 24 hours a day, piled up newspapers or mail. Use an inexpensive light timer to turn interior lamps on and off while you are away and ask a neighbor to pick up any fliers, mail, and newspapers.
* Don't hide spare keys just outside of the front door. Burglars know to look for hidden keys under rocks, flower pots, and above door ledges. Instead consider exchanging keys with a trusted neighbor.
* Unsecured sliding glass doors and windows can be seen from a distance. This problem occurs frequently during the holidays, as Christmas light extension cords are often run inside through a window. This prevents it from being securely closed and locked. Instead hire an electrician to install inexpensive exterior outlets for your holiday lights. This choice also allows for placement of outlets where they are most convenient, instead of having to run extension cords all over the yard.
* Do not put your family's name on the mailbox or house. It is common for a burglar to obtain the home telephone phone number through directory assistance, and then call while sitting in front of your house to confirm that no one is home, and that it is safe to break in.
* Do not leave itineraries and travel plans on your voice mail or answering machine. This allows burglars to plan ahead and have plenty of time to break in and thoroughly toss your home.
* After Christmas break down the boxes from your new gifts and put them inside your garbage can. Leaving them in plain site lets burglars know what expensive gifts are inside just waiting to be stolen.
* Last but not least, make sure that all doors and windows are locked.
