Tips for making your season bright… and safe.

During the holiday season our homes are an especially tempting target for would be intruders.  From having a surplus of new, desirable items under the tree to being gone more often, its time to beef up your security to make sure that all your possessions don’t make a burglar’s season bright.

Tree Location- For years fire authorities have told us to turn off our holiday tree before we leave the house.  These pinnacles of holiday decoration are wrapped in electric lights and can be a a tremendous fire hazard.  Have you thought about the position of your tree though?  Placing it in the front window might help make the neighborhood a little festive, but when you turn off those lights as you leave the house that visually announces ”I’m not home.”

Timers- Everyone remembers Joe Pesci’s character from Home Alone, watching the street from his van as the lights on timers click on.  Timers can be a great way to trick intruders into thinking you are not home, but be sure to get ones that allow you to customize the schedule throughout the week.  Better yet, get a system that provides a web interface to create custom schedules for your lighting.

Visitors- The holidays are full of visitors: neighbors bringing treats, delivery men asking you to sign for a package, and obscure relatives stopping by for a little turkey dinner. Be aware of who you let into your home and what you say tho those you do let in.  Giving them clues to your plans for the holidays, or even hints of what is wrapped under the tree may become an invitation to plunder your holiday trove.

Get Familiar- Your neighbors can be a huge help year round, especially when it comes to keeping your community safe from predators and intruders.  Bake a plate of cookies and go see the family a few doors down that you haven’t gotten to know yet.  Share your passion for a maintaining a safe, secure, neighborhood, offer to keep an eye on their place during the holidays and ask them to do the same for you.  Exchange phone numbers and be sure to introduce them to others on the street.  The more familiar everyone is with each other, the less likely any of you are to become a victim of a crime.

Wait to Update.  As you update your status on Facebook or Tweet your shopping list, be aware that every time you announce your location or activities you may be telling others “I’m not home.”  Its better to post once you return home “I just got back from a great sale at ____ and picked up things for the whole family.  Glad to be home!” is a safer way to report your activities without inviting intruders over for the afternoon.

No matter what you do, be sure to keep your home security system armed whenever possible.  Whether you are going over the river and through the woods to grandma’s house, decking your own halls, or nestled all snug in your bed with visions of sugar plums dancing round in your head, keep your system activated.  That way you can enjoy your holiday season while we watch over your home for you.

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