It’s now December and the holiday season is in full swing! Last month we shared some great ideas on keeping you and your home secured and safe over the holiday season. In the spirit of this season of giving, I want to give you some more, great holiday home security tips from some of my favourite holiday movies!
Home Burglaries Increase At Christmas Time
It’s a bit extreme to make up cardboard cut outs and put them on a moving track, while cranking festive songs, but Kevin McCallister had the right idea. Make it look like somebody is home. Lights on a timer is a great way to give the impression that somebody is home. There are even some timer systems that integrate with your home alarm system and can be programmed to randomly come on between certain time frames.
Other signs that Humbugs are looking for are the unshoveled driveway, over flowing mailboxes, newspapers and flyers on the front steps for multiple days. If you’re going to be away, leave a spare key with a friend or neighbour to check in on the house daily, or hire a house sitter to pick up mail and flyers and at the very least leave tire tracks and foot prints in your driveway.
Don’t advertise. Charlie Brown is right, the holiday season has become too commercial! Try not to advertise your possessions too. If you must put your tree in the front window of your home, try to keep the piles of presents away from the window as long as possible. Once the gifts are opened, break down the well branded boxes and bundle them so that you cannot see what they once contained (this will limit your curbside advertising on garbage day).
Motion Sensitive Flood Lighting
If video surveillance of your home security system isn’t part of your home’s exterior decorating (be it year round or for the holidays) look into motion sensitive flood lighting. People are less likely to stick around if somebody can see them trying to break in. The only person who should be able to approach your home stealthily will be landing on the roof, not coming up your driveway.
We at SecurU hope all Miltonians have a SAFE and HAPPY Holiday season shared with friends and family!