Taking measures to protect the home and deter thieves is always important, but perhaps no time more so than around the holidays. Thieves prey on homes vacated by holiday travelers because they are easy to stake out and then invade. They also love to rob a home that they can tell is filled with nice holiday gifts. Follow these holiday safety tips to protect the home from falling victim to a crime:
Step 1: Protect your mail from becoming stolen by taking outgoing mail and packages to the post office or courier. Insure packages for an amount equal to the replacement cost of the item and never send cash in the mail.
Step 2: If you will be out of town during the holidays, request that the post office hold your mail delivery. Ask neighbors to pick up any packages that are delivered to your home during your absence.
Step 3: Install motion detector lights around the outside of the home, including the garage. Install the lights in the darkest and most secluded areas of the lot.
Step 4: If you will be away from the home during the evening, purchase some light timers and install them throughout the home. Time various lights to go on during the evening hours. Some timers contain a day cycle and this can be used to set different lights to turn on during different days.
Step 5: Keep the shades drawn throughout the home so that observers cannot tell what, or who, is inside. This will prevent robbers from being able to preview the contents of the home. In addition, thieves tend to steer clear if they are unable to detect that a home is vacant.
Step 6: Lock all windows and doors. Do not leave any door keys in obvious locations outside the home such as under a doormat or flower pot.
Step 7: If you cannot afford to purchase a home security system that will alert the authorities if the home is invaded, give your house key to a neighbor that can be trusted. Ask that he or she check on the home every day.
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