Protecting your home during the holidays

Tis the season to be jolly, but it is also the season to be wary of burlary, theves, pickpockets, and other grinches which can ruin our Christmas spirit by making us the victim of a crime.  Unfortunately, these lawbreakers view the holiday season as an opportunity to burlarlize you home for cash, credit cards, personal property, and gifts. 

The following tips can assist you in hardening your home against becoming a crime target:

—Be extra cautious about locking your doors and windows when you leave your home or appartment, even for a few minutes.

—Don’t openly display your Christmas tree and gifts in the front window so it’s easily visible from the street. It’s too tempting for a potential criminal to smash the window and grab the wrapped packages. Or plan a later break-in based on their earlier observation.

—Don’t advertise …Burglars look for occupancy cues like outdoor lights burning 24 hours a day, piled up newspapers, mail, or advertising flyers hanging on the door knob.

—Use an inexpensive light timer when you are away and ask a neighbor to pick up your newspapers and mail.

—If you go out for the evening, turn on lights and a radio or television so the house or apartment appears to be occupied.

—Burglars know to look for the hidden door key near the front entrance. Don’t hide spare keys under rocks, in flowerpots, or above door ledges. Instead give the spare key to a trusted neighbor.

—Burglars prefer to enter through unlocked doors or windows.  A holiday problem can occur when exterior Christmas light extension cords are run inside through a window which prevents it from being secured.

—Don’t post your name on a mailbox, your house, or holiday greeting signs.  A burglar can call directory assistance or look in a telephone directory to obtain you telephone number and call your home, while in front of your house, to confirm that you are away.

—Don’t leave descriptive messages on you telephone answering machine like, “You’ve reached the Smith’s … we are away skiing for the Holidays…please leave a message.”  Burglars love to hear this because they know that they will have plenty of time to break in and ransack you house.  Turn the telephone ringer tone down so that it cannot be heard from the outside.

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