The holiday season centers around excellent food, good spirits, and, of course, gifts. The rush and bustle, on the other hand, may distract us from the possible hazards that may surround us this time of year. Holiday thefts and break-ins often increase during this season because burglars are aware that many families vacation during the holidays, potentially leaving their houses unattended or packed with expensive gifts.
Consider the following measures to secure your possessions & home from holiday theft this season:
Keep the Lights On
Many individuals look forward to visiting relatives or taking a trip during the holidays, but criminals may be looking forward to your trip as well. Unoccupied homes can be tempting targets for burglars, but concealing indicators of vacancy can trick robbers into thinking you’re still at home. According to experts, leaving lights on, asking a neighbor to fetch your mail, and placing automated timers on holiday lights and decorations might give the appearance of being home. Before you depart, you should also do a home security check and consider making any necessary modifications to help prevent the occurrence of theft.
Keep Valuables Hidden
Shopping is often associated with the holidays, which is why theft increases during the holiday season. It can be tempting to leave luggage and packages in the back seat of your automobile as you move from store to store-and in plain sight of potential thieves. Keep your holiday purchases hidden or in the trunk, park in well-lit places, and lock your doors to help protect yourself and prevent holiday theft this season.
Never leave goods packaging on the curb for the trash collector to pick up. Leaving your new TV’s box outside for everyone to see sends a message to burglars, letting them know exactly what’s inside your home for stealing. When you receive your products and remove the contents, take a few moments to break down the shipping boxes into smaller pieces so they can be thrown in a more discreet manner.
Secure Your Windows & Doors
If you’ve been researching impact windows and doors, you’ve probably read about how they can protect your home from natural disasters like hurricanes. But did you know that impact windows and doors can also defend your home from intruders and theft?
Numerous studies on the behavior of burglars and intruders have been undertaken over the years in order to obtain more information on some of the largest deterrents for breaking into homes, as well as some of the most prevalent ways thieves found entrance into these homes. Gathering and learning from this information about previous thefts is critical for leading security firms as well as leading window and door providers to assist you in better safeguarding for your house and goods.
The most typical technique for burglars to gain entrance to your home, second only to coming in through an unlocked front door, is by smashing the glass of a first-floor window, reaching in, unlocking the window, pulling it open, and climbing inside. So, aside from making sure all of your doors are secure, the greatest thing you can do to avoid becoming a victim of a house burglary is to make sure your windows are secure. Instead of shattering like regular glass does, hurricane impact windows and doors will splinter, but not break.
Protect Your Delivered Holiday Packages
There will likely be more online shopping this holiday season than any previous holiday season, which means lots of packages will be being delivered to homes between now and the holidays, opening the door to potential holiday theft. There are some ways that you can better protect your deliveries from holiday theft this year.
Signed-for services give an added layer of security to shipments. In addition, package receiving services can protect your gifts from theft by receiving house deliveries and storing them until you are ready to pick them up. These package receiving services also protect items from weather damage, which is especially crucial during the wet and cold winter months. In general, a PO Box has more convenient hours for you to pick up your property. However, before purchasing or using one, check with your shipping company or the company you are placing an order with, as some won’t deliver to a PO box and would instead require a physical address.
If you are unable to locate a package acceptance service that is convenient or close enough to you, your best choice may be to ask a friend to receive your holiday packages on your behalf. This can be the most convenient way to get packages if you know a person who works remotely from home or has a more flexible schedule to handle house deliveries. If all else fails, see whether the packages can be delivered to your job. If you spend the day at work, this might be a really simple alternative that saves you from having to make a special trip and protect you from theft. Of course, this is dependent on the employer, as not every company allows its employees to receive goods at the office due to space and safety considerations.
These burglary and holiday theft prevention tips will assist you in keeping your home and its belongings safe this holiday season and beyond. Remember, when it comes to social media, silence is golden! According to reports, four out of every five burglars utilized social media last year to determine when people were not at home to commit theft. So, keep this information a secret so you can enjoy opening your gifts and focusing on all the holiday enchantment this year.
With impact windows and doors from East Coast Windows, you can discourage holiday theft while also protecting your home and belongings. East Coast Windows & Doors (ECW) is a PGT® Custom Windows & Doors (PGT®) authorized dealer. PGT®, based in Florida, offers customizable items that reflect your individual style. PGT®, which was designed with a clear purpose in mind, protects your loved ones from flying debris during hurricanes as well as would-be holiday thieves. Give us a call at (954) 946-3697 or Click here to receive a free quote and learn more more about securing your house from holiday theft with impact windows and doors!
