The holidays are a happy time for most of us but for many, holiday shopping is simply a headache. Holiday traffic is always bad, there are long lines at the stores and people are often financially, emotionally, and physically stressed out.
Of course one of the happiest persons this time of year is the criminal opportunist. He/she lies in waiting for us to make simple mistakes that create opportunities for him or her to steal or cause us personal harm. Don’t add being the victim of a crime this holiday season to your stress. Follow these simple steps to ensure you and your family is safe during the holidays.
Be extra careful and cautious about locking doors and windows when you leave the house. It only takes a few moments for a burglar to get in and steal your property and gifts.
Never put large displays of holiday gifts in view of your windows or doors.
When going on trips or out for the evening, use automatic timers to turn indoor lights on and off. This gives the appearance that someone is home.
Immediately after the holidays, mark your new gifts with your driver’s license, or a personal ID number. This will ensure your property can be identified should it be stolen and recovered. It also makes it more difficult for the criminal to dispose of it.
Never advertise what you got for Christmas by putting the boxes out on trash day. Break the boxes down or take them to the dump yourself.
