The holidays are a great time to travel. It is also a great time to stay home and enjoy the company of your loved ones. No matter your travel plans this holiday season, it is important to protect your home from potential intruders.
Traveling Over The Holidays
Never post your travel plans online. Sharing your travel details makes you susceptible to burglars in your absence. Even if you feel that your online posts are private, do not become a victim by sharing specific details on the internet.
Notify a neighbor of your travel plans. The best person to constantly keep an eye on your house is the person closest to you that will see your home constantly. Provide good contact information to your neighbor so they can easily reach you in case of emergency.
Do not make your home look appealing to a criminal. Many crimes occur because of opportunity. If you know that you will be away for extended times, do not order packages that will sit on your door step for days. Ask a friend or neighbor to grab your mail so that your mailbox is not over filling. The post office will also hold mail while you are traveling as a good way to avoid packages being stolen.
Staying Home Over The Holidays
Staying home with family or having visitors at your home are also great ways to spend the holiday season. It is still important to not make yourself a target.
Do not put your tree in front of an open window with presents all around. Presents under the tree look nice but attract burglars. Hide presents in safe locations until you plan to actually open them up. Burglars may drive by, see a tree in the window with presents surrounding it and make your home a target while you are away at work or shopping.
Finally, protect your home this holiday season by checking the exterior of your home frequently. Walk around your home to look for oddities, lock all exterior doors before leaving home, and ensure your garage door is closed every night.
The Merdes Law Office wishes everyone a happy and safe holiday season. We have helped injured Alaskans for more than 30 years, it’s who we are. And while we hope you never need us… We’re here if you do.
Sources: Safewise, “How to Keep Your Home Safe and Secure During the Holidays” and Pixabay
