Holiday Tips

The holiday season is all about family, friends, fun and feasting. But there is a much less enjoyable aspect of this time of year: an increase in crime.

During the weeks leading up to Thanksgiving and Christmas, crimes such as burglary, robbery and theft all rise. The holiday season of 2009 saw a 30 percent increase in burglaries in the four weeks leading up to Christmas.

But do not be discouraged. The holidays are a time for cheer and joy. And luckily, there are some easy to follow tips to keep your home and your family safer this year.

Always lock doors and windows when you leave the house. Close curtains and blinds to prevent people from seeing into your home.

Hide brightly wrapped gifts from plain view. Keep holiday decorations and gifts in a part of your home that is not visible from the street.

Walk around the perimeter of your home. Remove any loose bricks or cinderblocks, which can be used to break glass. Also, trim bushes that could create blind spots. If you have exterior lights, make sure they are working properly.

Lock your vehicles when they are in the driveway. Vehicle break-ins are common this time of year and often involve unlocked cars. Do not leave shopping bags in plain sight, either. These full bags of merchandise are very tempting to thieves.

When you are throwing trash away after the gift wrapping is ripped off, break down boxes and try to turn them inside out. This will keep anyone from seeing just what is new in your home.

If you are going out of town this holiday season, you should not have to worry about your home’s security. Ask a neighbor to park in your driveway. Stop your newspaper and mail delivery. Put your lights and TV on timers so that they will go on and off, making it look like someone is home.

If you have an alarm system, make sure it is working properly. If you are unsure how to test your system, your alarm company can walk you through those steps, usually right over the phone.

If you do not have an alarm system and feel that it would make you feel safer this holiday season, contact one of the many local companies on the Delmarva Peninsula. That way, if someone does try to break into your home, they will be met by a nasty siren and the authorities will automatically be notified.

Do not invite anyone you do not know into your home for any reason. Even if it seems to be for a legitimate charity, be wary. Ask the solicitor questions about the organization and ask to see ID. The holidays are a great time to think of those less fortunate than ourselves, but it is also a great time for charity fraud.
Make sure that your homeowners or rental insurance is up to date. Also, insure valuable personal property such as jewelry and expensive electronics. Take pictures of these items to prove your ownership, should anything be stolen.

Often, these tips seem like common sense. And during the holiday season, everyone has so much on their minds that security sometimes falls to the wayside.

Taking the extra time to lock that upstairs window and close all the curtains can help deter crime from your home. Be alert this holiday season and make this a safe and happy time of year for everyone in your family.