Safety During the Christmas Holiday Season

The Christmas holidays are a special time when families and friends come together to celebrate the festive season. It is also the time of the year when we exchange gifts. It should be a joyous and happy time for all of us.
Unfortunately, home burglars view the Christmas holiday season a little different.

For them, it is an opportunity to burglarize our homes for cash, credit cards and the new gifts of small electronics, computers and jewellery-all easily sold valuables. So this article provides valuable tips on how to keep our houses safe during the Christmas holiday season.

Burglars look for an easy entry with good escape routes. So don't display your Christmas tree and gifts in the front window visible from the street. It is too tempting for them to smash the window and grab the wrapped packages.
Burglars watch a house taking note of things such as outdoor lights burning twenty four hours a day, open windows and gates left open. To foil them, install a burglar alarm system. Use a light timer (they are inexpensive) when you are away and ask your trusted neighbor to keep an eye on your house for you.

Burglars know to look for hidden door keys near the front entrance. Don't hide spare keys under rocks, in flower pots or above door ledges. Instead, give the spare key to a trusted neighbor.

Burglars prefer to enter through unlocked doors or windows. Sliding windows that are not secure can be seen from distance. One holiday problem can occur when exterior Christmas light extension cords are run inside through a window and prevent it from being secured. Hire an electrician or handyman to install an exterior outlet for your holiday lights. (Again this is not expensive.)

Burglars can call your home while in front of your house to confirm that you are away. Disconnect all phones. Do not leave descriptive telephone answering machines messages like, "you have reached the Wilson's... we are away for the Christmas holiday.... Please leave a message...e.t.c." Burglars like to hear that they have plenty of time to break in and completely ransack your house.