Thieves often take advantage of this festive season, so vigilance is key for a jolly holiday. Here are a few tips to help keep you, your loved ones and your property safe.
Safety & Security Tips For This Holiday Season
At Home
- Make sure all doors and windows have secondary locks (window pins, deadbolts, dowels, etc.) and use them!
- Don’t hide spare keys in mailboxes or planters, or under doormats.
- Ensure that dark areas and entrances have outdoor lights that are turned on after dark or are activated by sensors.
- Keep trees and shrubbery trimmed so they do not conceal doors and windows. Remember, overgrown foliage can provide a hiding place for criminals.
- Place gifts where they can’t be seen from the outside.
- Consider safe deposit boxes for coin and stamp collections, seldom-worn jewelry, stock bonds, etc.
- Be sure to mail cards, checks or gift certificates from the Post Office or at a blue U.S. Postal Service collection box.
- Lock your vehicle and remove all the valuables. Yes, even in your driveway.
Avoid Porch Theft: 5 Tips to Protect Your Packages
- Network with Neighbors
- Have Packages Delivered to Work
- Leave Specific Drop-off Instructions
- Use a Smart Lock
- Install Security Cameras
Leaving for the Holidays
- Ask a trusted friend, neighbor or Neighborhood Watch member to watch your home.
- Use timers for lights and radios while you’re away.
- Remember to make arrangements for mail and newspapers.
After the Holidays
- Don’t advertise expensive toys, electronics, or other gifts received by the boxes left for garbage collections. Compress large boxes and place them in black garbage bags for pick-up.
- Add new items to your home inventory. Take photos or video of all items of value in your home and list each item’s make, model, serial number and other information.
- Don’t advertise expensive toys, electronics, or other gifts received by the boxes left for garbage collections. Compress large boxes and place them in black garbage bags for pick-up.
- Add new items to your home inventory. Take photos or video of all items of value in your home and list each item’s make, model, serial number and other information.
A Security.org survey noted that 49 millions Americans (nearly 19%) have had at least one package stolen in the past twelve months. 36% of U.S. adults surveyed say they’ve sent a package somewhere other than their home address, 54% say they’ve changed plans in order to receive a package in person, and nearly seven in 10 said they weren’t willing to change up their online holiday shopping habits in the face of package theft. With that in mind, we hope these practical, easy-to-follow security tips to protect your home deliveries during the holiday season come in handy.
