Theft soars at an all-time high around the holiday season. Rest assured this holiday season by following some of these theft prevention tips.
General theft prevention tips
Make sure all doors and windows have a secondary lock and use them.
Do not hide spare keys in obvious spots. Example, under the doormat, in planters, or in the mailbox.
Lock your vehicles and remove any valuables.
Make sure each you have outdoor lights by your doors and sensor lights around the exterior of the house.
When leaving for the holidays...
Ask trusted friends, neighbors, or family to watch your home.
Install timer lights in your home that will create the illusion of people being there.
Have someone you trust take in mail and packages you may be receiving while you are away.
Protecting packages from porch pirates
A more common kind of theft now is people stealing other people's packages straight from their porch. Here are so ways to prevent this.
Install a security camera on your porch.
This may not work for all thieves, but it may stop some.
Give your delivery driver special instructions to drop your package off in a less visible location on your property, like the back door.
Invest in a porch lock box. This is like a safe for your packages.
Require a signature for delivery. This means until the delivery driver physically receives your signature when coming back your home, they will not drop the package off.
Home Security
Invest in an alarm system
Invest in a security camera system
Do not leave your valuables out on display, like motorcycles or bikes in your yard. Store them away, out of site, and locked up when you are done using them.
Shut and lock your garage to prevent any thieves from coming in and stealing from you.
Install an extra lock on your sliding doors.
Often times these doors don't have the strongest lock, so it is wise to add another lock to them.
Plant thorny shrubs below your windows.
Keep your car keys by your bed.
This is an alternative to having an alarm system in a way. If you hear or notice suspicious activity outside your home, reach for your keys and set off your car alarm. Often times this will scare any suspicious people away.
Holiday shopping theft prevention
Do not leave a phone, purse, or wallet unattended in your vehicle. This can cause lead to temptation for a thief to break into your car and steal your things.
Minimize what you bring in your wallet. Having a full wallet makes you a great target if anyone sees you with it.
Avoid public Wi-Fi for shopping or financial transactions. This can lead to potential scams and leaking your information.
Don't fall into the trap of "too good to be true" deals when it comes to online ads. If a deal looks too good to be true, it probably is. Avoid clicking on any suspicious links. These are what lead you to get scammed.
The list goes on and on, but these are a few ways to keep yourself protected. We hope this was helpful to you!
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