Like many Americans, the holiday season is one of the busiest times of the year. Between family, friends, work functions, and holiday parties, it’s easy to become a target for a home invasion or package theft. In a 2017 survey, nearly 26 million Americans reported stolen packages from their home’s front porch or doorstep during the holiday season. Is your home safe while you are out shopping or attending holiday events?
KEEP GIFTS AND PACKAGES OUT OF SITE
If you display your Christmas tree in front of an easily accessible window, consider another place in your home this year. This will deter potential robbers from breaking in, grabbing gifts, and making a quick exit. Instead, place your gifts and packages out of sight or wait until Christmas Eve before placing gifts under the tree. If you have to have gifts under the tree before Christmas, you can also try placing dummy gifts under the tree instead so that in the event of a break-in, your valuables are safe and sound.
BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU POST ON SOCIAL MEDIA
In the age of social media, it can be extremely easy for people to figure out when you’re home or away. Whether you have a holiday trip booked or another holiday event that will keep you away from your house for hours, be cautious and do not post where you are going on social media. When you post about being out of town, for example, you are letting the world know that you are not at home. Home invaders are known to keep tabs on social media to see when people go out of town so they can plan the perfect heist. Go on your trips and go to your parties, have a great time, take lots of pictures, but wait to post them until you get home.
BE SMART WHEN IT COMES TO PARTY PLANNING
If you are throwing a Christmas or other holiday party, we recommend hiring reputable companies to best serve your needs. Having a company with a good reputation that’s trustworthy will only help to keep your valuables safe. You should also be sure to store valuables and medications out of sight for the duration of your event. It’s always a good idea to designate part of your home off-limits to all guests. Consider putting a lock on all doors in your house and locking doors (such as your master bedroom door) during parties to prevent nosy guests from wandering around your home in going through your belongings.
LOCK YOUR DOORS & WINDOWS
While your doors and windows should be kept locked year-round, it’s especially important to make sure all your windows and doors are locked during the holiday season. Fall is a great time of year to inspect your locks to ensure that they are working properly before the start of the hectic holiday season. Do you have a deadbolt on all of your doors leading to the outdoors? A deadbolt is one of the best ways to defend your home against unwanted intruders. Statistics show that your front door is the most popular point of entry for a thief. Deadlocks are easy to install and one of the cheapest defenses you have against home invasion.
TIMERS & MOTION SENSORS
Setting your lights on timers is a simple, effective way to make burglars think you’re home even if you’re actually away on vacation or if you’re going to be coming home late at night. Motion sensors are also another great way to be aware of people coming and going from your property. Motion sensors will detect any kind of motion in a given area and can be set to turn on a light if motion is detected, providing an effective way to scare off would-be intruders.
INSTALL A HOME SECURITY SYSTEM
The only way to truly safeguard your home is with a comprehensive security system that includes things like high-quality locks, deadbolts, and an alarm connected to the police department. There are many security systems to choose from including security alarms, security cameras, and more.
At The Flying Locksmiths, we’re proud to provide a wide range of residential security and locksmithing solutions. From deadbolts to security systems, we’ve helped countless homeowners throughout the country to protect their homes and possessions, and we’d be thrilled to do the same for you. If you’d like to learn more about keeping your home safe during the holidays or want to talk about your security needs contact us to learn more.