Holiday Safety Tips for Homes and Businesses
With the holiday season right around the corner, burglars are on the lookout for unguarded homes or businesses to prey on. Unlike the Grinch, holiday robbers don’t often have a heart that grows three sizes, making it more important than ever to protect your valuables and your loved ones.
Our security experts have come up with seven useful and easy tips to help keep you safe this holiday season.
1. Don’t leave valuables or gifts on display
Close any window coverings or move any expensive items away from the windows. Anyone looking in from the outside who can easily see big-ticket items could be tempted to find their way inside.
2. Decorate safely
Consider the fire and safety risks that may be associated with your decorations. Faulty wires or damaged light strands can be a fire hazard, and keeping your outdoor decorations plugged in through a window can create a safety concern. Unplug holiday lights when you are not around to help avoid any concerns for electrical fires.
3. Curb burglars
Avoid leaving boxes or packaging for well-known or identifiable items outside your home or business. Put them in a bag or drop them off at a recycling center nearby. Leaving packaging outside is a signal to burglars that a big payoff could be waiting inside.
4. Be mindful online
In addition to the previous tip, be mindful of the things you share online. Flaunting expensive gifts on social media can entice people with bad intentions. You should never advertise your exact home address or share it with anyone you don’t know, so avoid posting images that make your address too obvious.
If you are leaving your house for vacation over the holiday season, remember these vacation tips and avoid sharing about your trip until after you’re home. Posting from another country or town shows that your home is sitting empty.
If you own a business that will be closed over the holidays, especially for an extended period of time, ensure that all of the proper safety protocols are met. It is also a good idea to test any alarms or sensors prior to an extended absence.
5. Be neighborly
Having neighbors who watch out for each other and keep an eye on things can be a great way to deter any criminal activity in the area. Consider reaching out to neighbors or other local business owners to strengthen your sense of community.
6. Put lights on a timer
Most criminals prefer to work in the cover of darkness. If you are not around in the evening, consider adding smart lightbulbs or managing some lights via an app such as Alarm.com. This can give you the flexibility to control your lights when you are not physically present.
7. Have a security system in place
Installing a security system with cameras, motion detectors, and smart monitoring can be the easiest way to truly secure your home or business. While it works all year long to keep you safe, the holidays serve as an added reminder to do so.
If you have any questions about getting started with a security system or have any questions about these holiday safety tips, give our friendly team a call or fill out the form below. We look forward to hearing from you.
Have a safe and happy holiday season!
Explore Our Other Blogs
How Landscaping Affects Your Security
Visibility When it comes to the landscaping around your home or business, there are several considerations to keep in mind that could affect your visibility and overall security. While some suggestions to increase visibility and reduce obstructions may seem obvious, others are more subtle and could have a considerable impact. Lighting Having adequate lighting around…
Smart Home Technology for Aging Adults
Alzheimer’s Awareness Around 75% of seniors want to stay in their homes as they age, according to the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP), even if they need day-to-day assistance or have ongoing health issues like early-stage Alzheimer’s or dementia. According to the Alzheimer’s Association, 5.8 million Americans are living with the disease, and by…
3 Types of Security Lights
Your security system is only useful if you can see what is going on when you can’t be there. This also means that when it gets dark, your cameras need to be able to capture the image clearly. To do this past dusk will require that you set up security lighting. Additionally, check out the…
What Does a Commercial Fire System Include?
Fire safety is critical for all businesses, but the components within commercial fire systems vary significantly between industries and functions. Fires can stem from common causes that affect any commercial property and sources unique to specific fields, so fire systems must address every threat using detection, prevention, protection, and suppression. With many options available for…
What Is a Central Station Alarm?
A central station alarm system is one that feeds directly into a central monitoring station. If a sensor on the central station alarm system is triggered, such as fire, smoke, C02, or burglar, the system does much more than just set off a loud siren or send an email alert telling you to log into…
Should My Business Have a Panic Button?
What Exactly is a Panic Button? As the name implies, a panic button is a button or switch that an individual activates when there is an emergency that needs immediate attention. Panic buttons are often hidden from plain sight so they can be activated subtly or in secret by the correct individuals. How Does a…
How Burglars Break In and Where to Secure Your Home
When a burglar considers your home as a potential target, here are some of the things he or she is looking for. Easy Access An intruder doesn’t want to get caught and needs to have an easy escape. There’s not a more easily accessible entry point at your home than an unlocked door, and most…
The Risky Business of Ring’s Vulnerable Security
If you are like the rest of Americans, you have noticed that the Ring Security company has been in the news lately— and not for anything useful. Between security hacks and lawsuits, the company has landed itself in hot water. Surveillance Camera Hacks Homeowners have security cameras installed in their homes to give them peace…
Can Video Surveillance Be Used In Court?
You should talk to a law enforcement professional in your area to know for sure what is admissible in your local court, but here are some general guidelines about criteria that law enforcement will take into consideration regarding your security camera video. Authenticity A digital watermark is undetectable to the human eye, but it can…
Emergency Egress 101 for Commercial Buildings
When people think about emergency egress, they usually picture exit signs and the nearest door. In reality, egress is the entire route occupants rely on to get out quickly and safely—often under heightened stress, reduced visibility, and crowded conditions. When a means of egress isn’t clear or usable, even a minor emergency can turn into…