Keep Criminals from Having a Merry Christmas
Christmas is a wonderful time of year. There are festivals, fancy dinners, family togetherness, and, of course, shopping! People spend more money during December than they do at just about any other time of year. They buy expensive gifts for their loved ones, wrap them up, and place them under the tree for a wonderful Christmas morning surprise.
Unfortunately, Christmas is a time of opportunity for criminals as well. They know that people are less vigilant during the holidays, relying on the Christmas spirit and goodwill of man to keep them safe. But this is not a good way to provide security for your home, family, and purchases. If given half a chance, thieves will take advantage of your naivet© and give themselves a Merry Christmas on your dime. Luckily, there are some actions you can take to keep yourself from becoming a victim during this holiday season.
1. Ensure that your windows and doors are always locked, even when you are at home.
2. Pull your curtains closed. This is particularly important if your Christmas tree is in plain view of the street in front of your house.
3. If you are going away for the holidays, set your lights to timers and have a friend or family member look in on your house regularly. Put a hold on your mail and newspaper.
4. After you open your presents, do not put empty boxes on the curb. This simply advertises what you have in your house that the burglars would want. Break up the boxes and put them in black trash bags instead.
5. Install a home security system and put up signs that are clearly visible to anyone thinking about breaking in. This serves as a powerful deterrent, since most criminals are looking for an easy grab. They do not want to bother with disabling a home security system and risk getting caught.
6. Verify that your homeowners' insurance policy is effective and has enough coverage for your new treasures.
When you are out shopping for presents, take the following precautions to keep yourself from being a target for thieves:
1. Never leave your treasures unattended.
2. Put all of your purchases in the trunk.
3. Do not put your purchase in the back seat where they can be easily seen when you go back inside to continue shopping.
4. Drop off packages at home frequently during your shopping outing if possible.
5. Go shopping with a friend to provide you both with additional security.
6. Carry only a minimal amount of cash.
7. Keep an eye on your credit cards as they are swiped.
8. Be vigilant of your surroundings, particularly when walking to your car.
9. Do not allow strangers to assist you with carrying your packages.
10. Contact mall or store security if you need help.
Most of all, just be cautious of your surroundings when you are out shopping and you will get all of those special gifts home safely and securely.
Unfortunately, Christmas is a time of opportunity for criminals as well. They know that people are less vigilant during the holidays, relying on the Christmas spirit and goodwill of man to keep them safe. But this is not a good way to provide security for your home, family, and purchases. If given half a chance, thieves will take advantage of your naivet© and give themselves a Merry Christmas on your dime. Luckily, there are some actions you can take to keep yourself from becoming a victim during this holiday season.
1. Ensure that your windows and doors are always locked, even when you are at home.
2. Pull your curtains closed. This is particularly important if your Christmas tree is in plain view of the street in front of your house.
3. If you are going away for the holidays, set your lights to timers and have a friend or family member look in on your house regularly. Put a hold on your mail and newspaper.
4. After you open your presents, do not put empty boxes on the curb. This simply advertises what you have in your house that the burglars would want. Break up the boxes and put them in black trash bags instead.
5. Install a home security system and put up signs that are clearly visible to anyone thinking about breaking in. This serves as a powerful deterrent, since most criminals are looking for an easy grab. They do not want to bother with disabling a home security system and risk getting caught.
6. Verify that your homeowners' insurance policy is effective and has enough coverage for your new treasures.
When you are out shopping for presents, take the following precautions to keep yourself from being a target for thieves:
1. Never leave your treasures unattended.
2. Put all of your purchases in the trunk.
3. Do not put your purchase in the back seat where they can be easily seen when you go back inside to continue shopping.
4. Drop off packages at home frequently during your shopping outing if possible.
5. Go shopping with a friend to provide you both with additional security.
6. Carry only a minimal amount of cash.
7. Keep an eye on your credit cards as they are swiped.
8. Be vigilant of your surroundings, particularly when walking to your car.
9. Do not allow strangers to assist you with carrying your packages.
10. Contact mall or store security if you need help.
Most of all, just be cautious of your surroundings when you are out shopping and you will get all of those special gifts home safely and securely.
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