Home Safety Tips For The Holidays

It is the holiday season and while this is a happy of a time filled with lots of fun, it can also be a great time for criminals as well.  It's the thing we would rather not have to deal with and think about, but in reality, we live in a big city and taking per-cautions is the best way to prevent crime in and around our homes. I attend my neighborhood watch meetings regularly and am active within my neighborhood as well so here are some tips to staying safe this time of year that I have gathered for you:

1. Keep your front porch and back door lights on at night, or have a sensor motion light.  Not only does it detour people lurking in the dark, but it just feels safe to see what is around you and your neighbor's house when you can see.  Fact is, most home break-ins happen during the day.  But for the other crimes that happen at night, this is a simple way to shed some light on the subject.

2. If you are home during the day, and someone knocks at your door, don't be afraid to speak up and loudly and ask them to leave if they are not there for a purpose you want to open the door for.  A lot of criminals will actually walk up to your front door and knock first to make sure no one is home. Then when they hear nothing, they break in.  So if you are home, speak up.

3. If you leave town, make sure you have the paper and mail stopped or picked up while you are gone.  A build up of papers on the driveway is a clear sign for a criminal to make a move.

4. Let your neighbors know if you will be out of town.  They will be around and know if something looks suspicious while you are not home.

5. Do Not leave anything in your car that is visible. No shopping bags, diaper bags, purses, ipods and phones or even phone chords. According to my Senior Lead Police officer, car break ins are a crime of opportunity.  This means the criminals aren't usually pulling on the handle of every car they come across.  They typically just walk past a car, see something, and decide to take it.

6. Try a driveway alarm. A neighbor of mine suggested this saying that it rings a bell in her house if someone walks past it if they are on her driveway.

7. Try having packages delivered to a work address or a friend or family member you know is home during the day to take it for you. It is becoming more common that packages are being taken right from our front doors. Or maybe even consider making the dreadful drive down to the UPS or Fedex store to pick it up if it is a concern for your.

8.  When you have people coming into your home to do work (cable guy, plumber, handyman etc...) keep your home information to yourself and don't share so much.  If you have a dog, don't tell them the dog doesn't bite.  Just put the dog in a room and let it bark. It's best if strangers think you have a four legged security system home all day. And don't mention your plans for Christmas Day or New Year's eve or any other time you won't be home. There is still a way to be friendly without giving out too much info.

9.  And as most of us are on social networking sites, keep your postings limited if you are out of town. Try sharing your vacation photos and experiences once you get back rather than while you are away.

I hope these are some useful tips for you and your home during the holidays, and year-round.  If you have any more you would like to share, feel free to post them in the comment section. And as always, if you are looking to buy, sell or lease, please call me.  I am always here to help.