Don't Let Grinch Thieves Steal Your Holiday Spirit: 7 Tips to Secure Your Home this Christmas
December is one of the busiest shopping seasons of the year. People are busy buying gifts for their loved ones and stocking up on the hottest toys and electronics. This also makes it the most opportune time of the year for thieves to cash in on unsuspecting homeowners.
Thieves know your home is full of gifts and extras this time of the year, making it the perfect time for them to attempt a break-in.
Homeowners need to take extra precautions to protect their home over the holidays. You need to watch what you say in public and online, and you need to avoid becoming an obvious target.
Give thieves a lump of coal with these holiday home security tips:
1. Watch what you say online
What you say online can come back to bite you if you are not careful. Avoid posting information about holiday travel plans, gifts, or posting photos that could give thieves incentive to target your home. Be discreet online.
2. Don’t advertise – Close your blinds
Yes, it’s lovely seeing your Christmas tree all decked out through your front window. But it’s also a giant attention getter, and it could draw the wrong type of attention. Keep your blinds closed when you are not home so thieves cannot get a look inside your home.
3. Don’t leave anything in your car
Looking for a good hiding spot for Christmas gifts? The car is not one of them. Vehicle break-ins also increase during the holidays. Find a better spot to hide your gifts.
READ: Top Items That Are Stolen From Cars
4. Secure your garage
Have a tendency to leave the garage door open? The garage is a popular entry point for thieves, especially ones with doors and keypad entry. Always make sure your doors are locked and secured. Avoid leaving anything valuable in the garage if possible. Also, lock the door from the garage to the house.
5. Have someone watch your home if you go away on vacation
If you are planning a family vacation during the holidays (lucky you!), it’s important to secure your home while you are away. Have a trusted family member or neighbor keep an eye on your home while you are gone.
READ: Tips To Protect Your Home When Going South For The Winter
6. Use motion sensor lights
Motion sensors are one of the most effective tools that can be used to deter thieves. Consider installing them by the garage, in the backyard and other entry points around the house. The presence of these lights often deters thieves from even attempting to break in. But don’t worry, they won’t scare off Santa!
READ: How To Protect Your Home From Burglars
7. Give the appearance of being home, even when you’re not
People are out and about a lot during the holidays. From shopping to work events, dinners, and holiday parties, there may be times where you are not home for extended periods of time. Thieves look for homes that appear to not have anyone home. Therefore, to deter thieves from even considering your home, you should create the appearance of someone being home. Keep on a light or two, turn on a radio and close the blinds.
How do you protect your home during the holidays? What is the single most effective tip to deter thieves during Christmas?