The holiday season is the time of the year when people get together to share memories, exchange gifts and enjoy the company of friends and family members. Unfortunately, the end of the year also is the prime season for burglars. Here are tips to help you maintain your holiday spirit by making it more difficult for those who would like to relieve you of your valuables by breaking into your home or car.
1. Keep the doors and windows in your home and vehicle locked.
This might seem obvious, but it’s the best way to keep your valuables safe. Fortify your home with a dead-bolt lock that penetrates the door frame and make certain the locks on your windows are in good working condition. If your home has a sliding glass door, it would be a good idea to place a rod in the track behind to keep it from moving.
2. Hide your stuff.
Don’t leave packages, phones or other valuables in plain sight in your car. Either place these things in the truck or at least put them under the seat or cover them with a blanket. And don’t invite burglars to break into your home by leaving valuables in the hallway by the front door or in other places where they can see them from outside.
3. Install a security system.
Burglars don’t like to work hard. Hiring a reputable company to install and monitor a security system for your home will help keep you safe during the holiday season and throughout the year. The signs and window stickers the security company provides are often enough of a deterrent to keep potential burglars away from your home.
4. Burglars know all the hiding places.
If you put a spare house key in your mailbox, under a big rock in your yard or beneath your welcome mat, burglars will find it. If you must have an extra key available in case your lock yourself out, leave it with a trusted neighbor.
5. Keep the lights on.
Outdoor lights with motion sensors will help keep your home safe, so make sure you replace any burned out bulbs immediately. It’s also a good idea to leave a light or two on inside your home when you’re gone. You don’t want to advertise you’re not home.
6. Where you park makes a difference.
When you are out holiday shopping, try to park your car or truck in a well-lit area and as close to the store entrance as you can. If possible, don’t give potential thieves privacy by parking next to large vans or SUVs. And if you return to your car to drop off packages, it’s a good idea to move the vehicle to another parking spot. You don’t want to tell criminals who might watch that you won’t be back for a while.
If you follow these six rules, the holiday season can be a fun, exciting and wonderful time of the year. To learn more about how to protect your home and car from burglars, call Pop-A-Lock any time of the day or night at (361) 851-6736 or visit www.PopALockCorpusChristi.com.
Corpus Christi, TX 78408