We’re just 2 weeks away from Christmas and shoppers all over the country are scrambling to get their bits and pieces in before the big day arrives.

Most people are busy mapping out their arrangements for over the festive season and many are planning to go away on holiday.

Unfortunately, crime doesn’t take a holiday and while Christmas is traditionally known as the season of goodwill this certainly doesn’t apply to the opportunist burglars around the country. This is the busiest time of year for burglars with many homes becoming an Aladdin’s Cave of jewellery, electrical items, cash & other items.

There is also the rich pickings of homes left vacant by people who have chosen to head away for the seasonal break. That’s why it’s especially important to stay extra vigilant at this time of year. Here are some tips to keep your home from those less than festive burglars this Christmas.

Keep Valuables & Gifts Out Of Sight

There’s no better compliment for a nicely decorated Christmas tree than a neatly wrapped stack of gifts placed under it. While this is a festive tradition in many homes it can also serve as an incentive for a burglar to target your home.

It’s quite common for criminals to assess the homes they are going to target before breaking in. To prevent this you should position your tree away from the window to minimize visibility from the street. All curtains and blinds should also be pulled when the occupant is out of the house.

Keep All Windows & Doors Locked

While this is basic common sense you would be surprised at how careless some homeowners can be when leaving their homes. There is a surprising amount of burglars that have entered a home right through the front door so it’s important to take extra caution. Other things like leaving a front light on when out in the evening time can also act as a helpful deterrent.

Whether you’re out shopping, working or heading away for the holidays it’s important to triple-check that your doors, windows and all other access points to your home are properly secured. An open window or an unlocked door could make the perfect Christmas present for an opportunist burglar.

Dispose Of Packaging Discreetly

It’s common knowledge that many burglars assess the contents of a home by analysing the packaging left over from various electrical & valuable goods left out on the street. This practice is especially common at Christmas time.

If you have been lucky enough to of received a lavish gift such as a flat-screen or a laptop it’s best to dispose of the packaging in a discreet manner instead of leaving it visible for all to see. You might just be advertising your home as a potential target for burglars.

Notify A Neighbour

If you are heading away this Christmas it’s best to notify a neighbour to keep an eye on your home while you’re on holiday. If you don’t know your neighbours all that well, then perhaps invite a family member or a close friend to stay in the house while you’re away.

Offering to reciprocate this favour may also prove as a good incentive to your neighbours to keep an extra eye out for your home in the future. Another good way to keep your home secure is by forming a neighbourhood watch group.

Keep A Low Social Media Presence

While Social Media is used primarily to connect with friends & family it can also be used for more sinister intentions. Burglars will go to any lengths to find new homes to break into including monitoring Social Media channels.

If you’re heading away it’s extremely unwise to broadcast your travel plans to all and sundry. This also goes for flaunting your expensive new gifts online. This can serve as an open challenge for a burglar to target your home.

Action24 offer a full security package for homeowners looking to beef up the security of their home this Christmas. Why not contact us today and find out we can help you.