Christmas is just around the corner, and with it comes Christmas trees, holiday lights, gift shopping, and, unfortunately, a spike in burglaries. Burglaries tend to increase around the holiday season, as families travel and both give and receive pricey, valuable gifts that burglars find attractive. That\u2019s because this is the time of the year when you\u2019re most likely to purchase valuables and store them in your home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you\u2019re wondering how to keep your home secure during the holidays, read our nine tips on how to protect your home and valuables from burglars this festive season!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Don\u2019t Display Your Gifts Near The Window<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The best way to protect yourself is to conceal what you keep in your home. So, avoid displaying any gifts you may have purchased or received under it near a window that\u2019s easily visible from the street.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Use Smart Lighting<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s pretty common for people to leave the lights on when going away for vacation or even simply leaving the house. It\u2019s a common belief that if a thief came close to the house and saw the lights on, they\u2019d leave. The problem with this is that burglars are often skilled detectors. They may scope out your home prior to breaking in. If they notice that your home is lit up day and night throughout the week, they might start suspecting that you\u2019re not home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n That\u2019s when smart lighting comes in. Smart devices can really help deter burglars from entering your home. And one of the most efficient ways to protect your home from thieves is by installing a smart lighting device. Smart lighting devices allow you to turn on and off specific lights at specific times and even adjust the brightness depending on the time of day using a timer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The idea is to mimic the actions of someone being home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Lock Your Valuables In a Safe Box<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n If burglars manage to enter your home while you\u2019re away, they\u2019ll be looking for valuables. Therefore, make sure to lock your keys and valuables in a safe box or safe room. If you\u2019re ever in a situation where thieves are in your home, you\u2019ll be glad your sentimental items and valuables are safe and secure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Tell Your Neighbors You\u2019re Going Away<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n If you live in a friendly neighborhood and know some of your neighbors, let them know you\u2019ll be away during the holiday season. This way, if they notice any suspicious activity around your property, they\u2019ll be able to let you know or notify the police.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Have Packages Shipped To a Locker<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n You might sometimes purchase your Christmas gifts online. After all, that\u2019s pretty common. If that\u2019s the case, have your parcels delivered to a locker during the holiday season to avoid attracting thieves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n And this doesn\u2019t only apply to your purchases. Make sure to provide your friends and family with the address of your package locker so that they can ship their gifts to you there. Package lockers are designed to provide owners with secure storage space. You can also ask your post office to hold your mail to avoid taking any risks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Avoid Leaving Expensive Items In Your Car<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n You\u2019ve just purchased some amazing gifts for your family and are looking forward to wrapping them and revealing them under your Christmas tree or on each night of Hanukkah. As you park in your driveaway, you notice the person you bought the gifts for is home. So, you leave them in the car. Unfortunately, burglars are always on the lookout for easy opportunities to steal from vehicles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Therefore, leaving expensive items in your car while it\u2019s parked outside, is one of the best ways to attract thieves and get robbed. Even when it\u2019s in your driveway. When possible, remove any valuables (including gifts) from your car, and be sure to lock it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Keep Your Garage Doors and Back Doors Locked<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Whether you keep valuables in your home or your garage, you should ensure that all these doors are strong, sturdy, and secured. Now, one of the most secure ways to lock your back door and garage door from the inside is to use a slide lock firmly attached to the wall and a padlock.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Also, it can be a good idea to put a deadbolt on the door located between your garage and your home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Upgrade Your Home Security System<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Approximately 74% of uncompleted burglar intrusions are due to an audible alarm system. And the best way to deter burglars during the holiday season is to install a CCTV video surveillance system. The Daily Mail even features countless stories of thieves caught on CCTV stealing Christmas gifts from under the owners\u2019 Christmas trees!<\/p>\n\n\n\n Yet, 75% of homeowners don\u2019t have a home security system. So, if that\u2019s the case, make sure to upgrade your home security system with high-tech security equipment such as CCTV, glassbreak sensors, or burglar alarms. That way, you\u2019ll be alerted if someone breaks in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Avoid Posting Pictures of Holiday Gifts On Social Media<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n This might sound a bit extreme, but tech-savvy burglars know how to pull metadata from a picture and locate your home. So, avoid posting pictures of your holidays while you\u2019re away and avoid sharing photos of all the fancy gifts you bought for your friends and your family. And if you really want to share these great moments with your close ones, make sure your privacy settings are on, and only your friends and family can see your posts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Need A Professional To Help You Upgrade Your Home Security?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Whether you\u2019re looking for a secure entry door lock installation or cutting-edge security locks, we\u2019ve got you covered. Our team of professional locksmiths specializes in helping clients like you enhance their home security and protect their families and valuables.<\/p>\n\n\n\n