Security Tips for the Holidays

Posted by Brandon Stone on November 29, 2011 at 3:58 pm

Year after year, crime statistics prove that the holiday season is “open” season for criminals looking to score big. It’s a perfect opportunity, as both homes and cars are full of new merchandise. Cash drawers at local retail outlets are full of money, ATM’s are busy dispensing money and our pockets and purses are bulging with money. Everywhere a thieves looks, opportunities are present.

For a crime to be committed, both a victim and an offender must be involved. While offenders are everywhere, you have some control over whether or not you become a victim. By practicing a few basic security measures, you can reduce, and sometimes even eliminate, the opportunities you present to those who want to take what you’ve worked so hard to acquire.

Here are some basic security tips that you should keep in mind. These tips will help you to improve your personal security, as well as the security of your property, whether you’re at or away from home.

Exterior lighting is a major crime deterrent. Criminals hate to be seen and will generally look for poorly lit targets. Make sure you have working lights in both the front and rear of your home.
Some interior lights should be left on when you’re not at home. A completely dark house in the early evening hours implies that the house is empty. If you’re going to be away overnight, use an inexpensive timer to control various lights throughout the house.
Keep the service door between the garage and your home’s interior locked. This practice should be followed whether you’re at home or away.
If you park your car in the driveway or street, yet have a garage door opener hanging from the visor, how easy would it be for someone to gain access to your home? Hide the garage door opener or keep it inside the house when it’s not needed.
Keep shrubs and trees trimmed back and away from the house. Many home invasions occur when the home owner arrives home and is attacked by an intruder hiding out of site.
At night and while away from home, keep the curtains and blinds closed if the Christmas tree and presents are visible from the outside.
After Christmas, we tend to put all of our boxes on the curb for trash pickup. This makes it far too easy for a criminal to see who just received a new flat screen TV, Play Station, laptop computer or multi-drawer tool box. Take a few extra minutes and break down all boxes and place them in a dark heavy duty trash bag.
It should go without saying that leaving presents in the back seat of your car will only invite criminal activity. If you can’t drop off presents at home before going on to the next store, secure everything out of site in the trunk of your car.
Park in a well-lit area near an entrance. Again, criminals do not like to be seen.
Men should carry their wallet in a front pocket. A busy mall or store makes it too easy for someone to “accidently” bump into you and lift your wallet. It’s much harder to do when the wallet is in front of you.
Women should always keep their purse zipped and carried on a shoulder closest to a wall or building. It’s more difficult for a person to snatch a purse when there is little or no distance between the purse and a wall.
If you think you are being followed by another car, pull into a well-populated area and call the police for assistance. It is easy for a criminal to see that you just purchased $2,000 worth of electronic items. It’s even easier for him to follow you home to see which house he needs to rob on Monday when you’re at work.
Refrain from posting your location, shopping habits, spending habits, gifts received, etc. on facebook, twitter and other social media outlets. The fact that you just received an XBox with six of the greatest most expensive games could be viewed by an unfriendly “friend”.