Four Things You Ought to Know About Holiday Break-ins
Almost everyone looks forward to both receiving and giving gifts this time of the year. Unfortunately, criminals are also looking to get some freebies by stealing them from your home. Protect your gifts and keep everyone in good cheer by remembering these facts about holiday burglaries.
Burglars Have an Easy Time When Neighbors Don’t Communicate
Countless burglaries are foiled by watchful neighbors. Burglars hate witnesses, so a neighbor looking out the window or turning on the patio lights may be enough to send them running. If you don’t know your neighbors, get to know them. When they know you and your family, they’ll be able to tell when a person on your property is an intruder.
Burglars Enjoy Getting Presents Too
Many families have a pile of gifts in shiny wrapping paper somewhere in the living room. While this is a pleasant reminder that the holidays are near, it’s also an invitation for thieves. They would be more than happy to smash through a window and grab as many of these presents as they can carry. Keep your presents some place where they can’t be seen from the window. It would also be prudent to install some motion lights near your windows so that anyone trying to look through them would draw attention to themselves.
Burglars Make Use of Phony Identities
Around this time of the year, it’s common for solicitors to go door to door asking for donations. Criminals know this, and they use it to their advantage when casing potential targets. They sometimes pose as representatives of a charity group so that they have an excuse to come to your door and look into your house. Some of these crooks in disguise have even forced their way into a home once the door is open. Have your ADT Miami security firm install a panic button near your front door so that you can quickly summon help if that solicitor turns out to be a burglar.
Vacation is the Thief’s Best Opportunity
If you’re traveling to visit relatives this season, take steps to protect your home while you’re away. There’s nothing a burglar loves more than a house all to himself. You should call a Miami ADT home security company to give your alarm system a tune-up before you leave. It’s also a good idea to eliminate any indications of your absence. Have the post office hold your mail, and ask a neighbor to pick up any flyers placed on your door.
No family should have to suffer the fear and frustration of a burglary this time of the year. Luckily, these methods greatly reduce the chances of this occurring. Taking these steps will make your house more trouble than it’s worth for any burglars who may attempt to break in.
