5 Ways to Keep Your Home Safe During the Holidays
The holiday season is a great time for catching up with family, reflecting over the past year, and taking a little time off to remember the important things. Unfortunately, while you enjoy all that the holiday season has to offer, thieves and criminals find opportunities that aren’t as common the rest of the year. At Advanced Lock and Security, our number one goal is the safety and protection of you, your family, and possessions. Look through the following five tips for keeping your home and family safe this holiday season, and please give us a call if you have any questions.
Holiday Shopping Safety
The holiday season is that one time a year that everyone inevitably finds themselves doing some shopping. Since it gets dark early this time of year, taking care of shopping after work typically means doing it in the dark. Try to avoid driving or shopping alone if you can, and take precautions with matters such as where you park, what you carry with you, what you leave visible in your car, and ultimately, try not to take chances or make assumptions that no one will see that expensive gift sitting in the back seat of your car. Never exit your car while it is running, even if there is something stuck on your window. Instead, drive to a safe place with other people around to remove it. Park as close to the store as possible, and ask a store clerk or security guard for an escort to your vehicle.
Holiday Home Safety
You may have already done this, but if you haven’t gotten to know your neighbors, now is the time. Gifts are a tempting target for many thieves. If your neighbor knows you and your family, they are more likely to realize that a stranger is poking around your house and act accordingly. Be wary of strangers knocking on your door this season as well. There are those who may take advantage of your generosity. If someone is looking for charitable donations, have them properly identify themselves and the legitimacy of the charity before you donate. Finally, be sure to check all of the locks, latches, doors, and windows throughout your home.
Holiday Workplace Safety
While the extra time off is always nice, business continues with an extra demand for caution during the holidays. If you work in an office, consider a meeting where everyone can brush up on policy and procedure. The reception area should never be left unattended, and don’t feel hesitant to question outside maintenance and repair personnel. Retail stores are most vulnerable during the first and last 30 minutes of business, and try to lock up and leave in groups at the end of the day.
Holiday Online Safety
The digital world is great for those who would rather avoid busy stores, but it’s important to be careful when shopping online as well. When you go to check out or pay for your order, make sure it is a secure page. You can tell this by looking at the beginning of the address where it will show ‘https://.’ If you don’t see the ‘s,’ then you may rethink your purchase. Also, be careful when connected to public Wi-Fi connections.
Christmas Tree Safety
Make sure your live tree isn’t too dry, and water it daily with about one quart of water for every inch of trunk diameter. If you have an artificial tree, make sure it is flame resistant, and keep any tree at least 3 feet away from any open flame like candles or fireplaces. Also, make sure your lights are in good condition and don’t connect too many on one string.
