Holiday Safety Tips from Private Investigators

Safety Tips for the Holiday Season

We believe the holiday season should be one of joy. Whether you’re staying home or traveling this year, this article provides a list of holiday safety tips from private investigators. Learn how to keep your home and family safe during the holidays.

Home Safety

Many burglars prefer to break in through an unlocked door or window. Make sure all of your doors are locked and deadbolted. Also, remember to secure all of your windows, including those upstairs. In addition, be sure to cut tree limbs to reduce the chance of easy entry.

In more extreme burglary situations, intruders may try to kick in the door. Consider investing in a steel door or a reinforced door or adding additional deadbolts.

Keep your heat set at 55 degrees or higher to ensure your pipes don’t freeze and cause flooding. Keeping your home safe doesn’t only mean keeping it safe from burglars. Natural disasters could be even more costly.

Also, ensure you have a first aid kit and other supplies in an emergency.

Burglar Alarms and Home Automation

Test your alarm system to make sure it works. To do this, contact your monitoring company and let them know you want to do a test. Then, you’ll set off the alarm and let it sound for at least a minute. The alarm company will determine if they are getting the proper signal. If yes, then your alarm is working correctly. If not, have them come out and determine what is wrong.

Use automatic timers to operate interior lights and outdoor timers to operate your exterior holiday lights.

Ask Neighbors for Help

Ask a trusted neighbor to monitor your home while you’re away. Have them watch for anyone on your property and call the police if necessary. Also, be sure to have your mail, newspapers, and deliveries stopped or picked up by a neighbor, friend, or relative. When the mail and newspapers are piled up at your front door, it is a clear sign that you are away.

If you don’t have a neighbor to help, have your landscaper remove the snow from walkways and driveways while you’re away. This helps make it look like someone is at home.

As an alternative, leave a car parked in your driveway.

Don’t Post on Social Media

Essentially, posting on social media lets people know you will be out of town. Nothing is more inviting to a burglar than knowing precisely when and how long you’ll be out of town. Do not post public messages on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, or any other social media site until you return.

What Do Burglars Usually Steal?

Once inside your home, thieves will generally look for easy-to-remove valuables such as:

• Electronic equipment includes laptops, computers, tablets, phones, stereos, etc.
• Jewelry such as necklaces, bracelets, rings, earrings, etc.
• Cash, coins, savings bonds, etc.
• Credit cards, debit cards, gift cards, etc.
• Weapons such as guns, pistols, rifles, knives

Most burglars start by searching for the master bedroom because that is where most people tend to keep their valuables. They then move to other areas of the house as time permits.

Ideas for Concealing Your Valuables

Other important holiday safety tips include keeping your valuables from being stolen. The traditional method of concealing your valuables is to keep them in a safe. A safe place is great, but it must be too heavy for the delinquents to remove from your home. If the safe is small enough to carry, they won’t waste time trying to gain access while in your home. They will pick it up, carry it with them, and figure out how to bust it open later.

A thief who enters a home is generally looking for a quick grab. They want to get in and get out before the police arrive. But, if they manage to get in without setting off an alarm, there aren’t any barking dogs, and no neighbors are watching. They may have plenty of time to look around inside your home. Anything that is left out in the open will be an easy steal.

So, to keep your valuables safe, you’ll need to out-think the bad guys. Consider putting valuable items in inconspicuous places such as the freezer, the fish tank, the toilet tank, the pantry, and other areas.

You may also consider purchasing hidden safes, also known as diversion safes. Hidden safes look like everyday products such as shampoo or shaving creme dispensers, soda cans, and tissue boxes (the possibilities are endless). Still, there are safety storage containers with room to hide your valuables. We think these are a good idea, but steer clear of cheesy or fake-looking products that might give your secret away.

Beware of “Casing”

Be cautious of potential burglars conducting surveillance on your home, a tactic known as “casing.” They may pose as someone looking for a random person, selling goods, or conducting a survey to gather information. This helps them learn who lives in the house, their schedule, whether pets are present, and other details.

They may associate the car in your driveway with whoever answers the door to determine when that person is away. Observing whether children live there and their school schedule can also inform their plans. Additionally, burglars use these visits to assess your home, car, visible furnishings, and even the jewelry or clothing you wear to decide if a break-in would be worthwhile. Stay vigilant and cautious when interacting with strangers at your door.

What Deters Burglars and Thieves

• Home security systems with signs posted in the yard and stickers on windows
• Visible security cameras
• Bars on the windows and doors
• A car parked in the driveway
• Lights, preferably with TVs and radios on. Thieves know that most people leave on lights when they leave their homes, so leaving the front porch light and a few inside lights may not deter a criminal. However, TVs and radios will make them think twice and move to the next house.
• A well-populated neighborhood with a lot of neighbors watching. In addition, it is vital to have your house visible to others, so ensure you trim your trees and bushes, which minimizes places for thugs to conceal their movements.
• Pets, especially barking dogs. Large-breed dogs are the best. Not only do dogs pose a physical danger to the intruder, but their barking could also draw the attention of neighbors.

View a list of the best home security systems at Amazon.com.

What To Do If Your Home Is Burglarized

Experiencing a home burglary can be deeply traumatic, and it’s essential to act quickly and thoughtfully in the aftermath. First, ensure your safety by determining if the intruder is still present. If there’s any doubt, leave immediately with your family and go to a neighbor’s house or another safe location. Call the police immediately, providing your address and relevant details to the dispatcher. If you have an alarm system, notify your monitoring company to ensure law enforcement is alerted.

Avoid touching anything in your home to preserve evidence for the police investigation. Once officers have completed their assessment and report, document the damage with photographs for insurance purposes. Police may also dust for fingerprints to aid their investigation. Inform your neighbors about the break-in so they can take precautions to protect their homes.

Remember, criminals are becoming increasingly resourceful, so staying vigilant and proactive is key to keeping your home and family safe during the holidays and beyond.

Learn about other types of self-defense equipment and devices.

List of Holiday Safety Tips for Shopping

The holiday season is a time of joy and celebration, but it also presents increased opportunities for theft and crime. Following these safety tips can help protect you, your loved ones, and your belongings:

General Safety Tips

1. Shop During Daylight
   Crimes are less likely in daylight. If possible, complete your shopping during the day.
2. Bring a Companion
   Shop with a friend or family member. Criminals are less likely to target groups. If shopping alone, let someone know where you’ll be.
3. Stay Alert
   Always be aware of your surroundings and the people nearby. Report suspicious behavior to security immediately.

Personal Belongings

4. Travel Light
   Leave unnecessary items at home. Carry only essential IDs, cash, and credit cards in a secure front or zipped jacket pocket.
5. Avoid Flashy Accessories
   Skip expensive or flashy jewelry that might attract attention.
6. Secure Purses and Wallets
   Keep a purse close and never leave it unattended, especially in shopping carts or while loading your car.

Vehicle Security

7. Hide Your Purchases
   Store items in your trunk

When talking to management or the police officer, give an accurate account of the crime, including:

• Give a thorough description of the person (or persons) who committed the theft. Try to be as thorough as possible. Give details on their sex, approximate height and weight, skin color, hair color, eye color, and clothing. Mention any special features you may have noticed, such as scars, tattoos, accents, etc.
• Note the time the crime occurred (to your knowledge).
• Explain where you were when it occurred and when you discovered missing items (if you were not accosted in person).
• Explain the items that were stolen.

The more accurate information you can give, the greater the chances police can find and arrest the criminal(s) and possibly retrieve your things. If items were stolen from you, learn how to search for stolen items in the FBI Stolen Articles File.

Questions and Comments

If you have any questions about this list of holiday shopping safety tips, keeping your home safe, or suggestions for the list, please leave a comment below. See also a list of tips for Halloween safety.