How to Prevent Theft During the Holidays

Preventing Theft During the Holiday Season

Unfortunately, the possibility of theft increases during the holiday season. Here are some things that you can do to help prevent theft.

1. Leave the lights on

Try to leave the light on when you’re gone. Unoccupied homes make great targets for burglary. Hide the signs of a vacant home being leaving a light on, or keeping them on timers, and putting your holiday lights on timers. This gives the appearance of someone being home.

2. Keep valuables out of sight

If you are going from store-to-store shopping for gifts, be sure to hide your presents as you move onto the next place. Keep bags in your car’s trunk, make sure to park in well-lit areas, and lock your doors.

3. Lock up

When leaving your home, make sure to lock all your doors, not just your front door. Burglars don’t only go through the front, so check on the side, back, and patio doors. You should also check your windows to make sure hardware is secure.

4. Keep your travel plans offline

Try not to post about your travel plans online. This includes when you are leaving and when you are getting back or where you are going.

5. Protect your luggage

If you are traveling, use basic luggage instead of a designer to avoid drawing attention from thieves. Keep your eyes on your bag when going through security. Keep your bag close to you as you put your shoes back on after your security check and while at the gate. Make sure your bag is turned with the zipper close to you. You can even use a travel lock to lock your bag closed.

6. Notify the neighbors

Let your neighbors know if you are traveling so they can keep an eye on the house and report any suspicious activity. Additionally, ask your neighbors to bring in your mail and newspapers, so it’s not building up. This is a dead giveaway that you are not home.

7. Customize delivery dates and times

If you are doing a lot of online shopping, you may want to customize the delivery times to ensure you are home when the package arrives. You can also choose to have your packages held at the carrier’s location or have it sent to an Amazon locker if you don’t want to have it sent to your home.

8. Record, record, record

For any items with a large price tag, take note of as much information as possible. Take a picture of the item to store on your phone or computer, write down any serial numbers associated with the product, and the price. In the worst-case scenario, this will make it easier to track down any stolen items or reimburse you.