The holiday season is a time to be spent with family and
friends, reuniting and making lasting memories.
Unfortunately, it’s also one of the most common times of year in which
many homes fall victim to burglary. According to the FBI, nearly 400,000 of
these instances occur during November and December alone.Criminals are aware that expensive gifts have been shared and material objects are likely unhidden. Therefore, your friends at Blais Insurance want to provide you with ways that you can protect your home this season.
Discard empty
packages discreetly.
One of the easiest ways for thieves
to tell if your home is a worthy target is from the waste and empty packages by
your trash. If you have big boxes that
held TV’s or computers, be sure to break the packaging down and conceal it as
much as possible. You may also want to wait to dispose of packing until the day
trash/recycling is collected so it does not linger around and give would-be
burglars any incentive.
Take pictures of your
gifts and record serial numbers.
For any high price gifts, it’s a
good idea to take note of as much information as possible. This is relatively
easy to do and starts with taking a picture and saving it somewhere safe. You
should also write down all serial numbers if items need to be traced.
Additionally, any jewelry and other expensive items should be recorded with
your agent to keep it documented in case of an unfortunate situation.
Use caution when posting
on social media.
If your family is looking to get
away after the holidays, be sure to filter your posts. It’s an open invitation for burglars if they
know a home will be vacant for an extended period of time. Additionally, be
cautious about posting the larger, more expensive gifts you received for the
holidays. If they know what’s in the
home, it’ll be easier to take.
Minimize visibility to
outsiders.
Another mistake homeowners make is cautiously
leaving their gifts under a Christmas tree in clear sight from the road. If these items are visible from the street,
potential burglars do not have to make much effort to break into your home. In
order to try to avoid this problem, keep your curtains and/or blinds closed at
night or position your Christmas tree at a more discreet location.
We understand that the holidays can be a stressful time of
year, but it can also be the most wonderful.
Protect your home and loved ones this season by following these
preventative measures and ensure your time spent together is joyful. From all of us at Blais Insurance, we wish
you a very happy holiday season!
Information for this article provided by: Security for
the Holidays: Keeping Your Home Safe from Christmas Burglars
