Essential Tips to Secure Your Home During the Holiday Season

If you want to secure your home during the holiday season and prevent holiday burglaries, follow a few home security tips for the holidays. Private homes are prime targets for thieves this time of year. The recent spike in holiday crime is no surprise. People travel more in December and receive packages at their doorsteps.

That’s why smart home security during the holiday season should be a priority. Online shopping and home delivery are part of modern culture, so why not use a holiday safety checklist for homeowners. The best winter home security advice is to install deadbolts and keep doors and windows locked.

Keeping your house safe while on vacation is also about using smart home security during the holiday season, like security cameras and video doorbells. Having real-time surveillance can deter thieves and intruders. Finally, ask neighbors to watch your property. Schedule deliveries wisely and be proactive about keeping your house safe while on vacation.

Understand Common Holiday Security Risks

Why Empty Homes Are Targeted

During the holidays, homeowners face increased crime risks due to being away on vacation, doorstep package deliveries, and lax security. You can secure your home during the holiday season by making your property less of a target for thieves. Criminals seek unattended packages left at homes by online retail delivery agents.

Unfortunately, people tend to let their guard down during the festive season. Discovering how to protect your house during Christmas is a worthwhile goal. Use scheduled delivery options, install high-tech security systems, and ask friendly neighbors to monitor your home while you’re away. Follow commonsense home security tips for the holidays, like those listed below.

The Threat of Porch Pirates

Item one on any good holiday safety checklist for homeowners is about porch pirates. These “hit-and-run” crooks target unattended packages left on doorsteps. They pose a major security risk.

To secure your home during the holiday season, assess your current security setup. Identify any weak points, like lack of surveillance cameras, no safe place for delivery agents to leave packages, old-fashioned locks on doors, and non-reinforced entry points. Address vulnerabilities proactively to enjoy a worry-free holiday.

Physical Security Basics

Reinforce Entry Points

Boosting physical security is an efficient approach to the question of how to avoid break-ins over the holidays. The main part of an overall strategy is to reinforce entry points, like doors and windows. Those two spots are the primary entry points for thieves. The initial step to secure your home during the holiday season is to install Grade 1 deadbolts, along with strike-plates for each lock. Use long screws on plates for added protection.

Next, reinforce door frames that feature strike plates that make it very challenging for burglars who try to kick them in. Finally, place locks on all windows, particularly those on the first floor. For sliding windows, use dowels or special locks to keep them from being popped open by thieves. Professional locksmiths are experts at reinforcing door frames. Basic entry-point security measures are a cost-effective and prudent way to make any home safer during holidays and any time of the year.

Use Lighting to Deter Intruders

Something as simple as special lighting can go a long way toward home security. And when it comes to travel safety tips for your home, timing devices are an inexpensive solution. No matter the situation, lighting deters intruders.

Use motion-sensor lights that automatically come on when an intruder approaches. Place these units near all entry points and where they can illuminate dark nooks and crannies. Well-lit homes are poison for criminals and much less attractive targets during seasons when crime rates are higher than usual.

Leveraging Technology for Home Security

Smart Locks: A Modern Solution

The latest technology has had a profound effect on home safety. Smart locks are the most popular and well-known products in the category, but there are many more. Today’s homeowners can use smart locks to remotely control access to their property, allow access to trusted individuals, and rest easy knowing that a high-tech lock is protecting their home. Locksmiths are equipped to install all kinds of smart locks.

Smart locks feature real-time monitoring capability, the power to lock or unlock doors from anywhere, and the option to use temporary access codes for service providers and others. The sophisticated locks offer both security and convenience. Hire a locksmith for professional installation.

How to Use Surveillance Cameras Effectively

Surveillance cameras are a major part of the modern technology revolution in home safety. Top-sellers in the niche include products like doorbell cams, surveillance cameras, and similar items for real-time monitoring. Homeowners who install these devices should place them in such a way to cover entry points, driveways, fence gates, garages, and doggie doors.

The cameras film activity and allow for enhanced security via two-way communication. Night-vision and motion-detection cameras are particularly powerful crime deterrents. Always maintain the systems by performing regular checks and repairs.

Remote Monitoring Features

Remote-monitoring devices boost safety and convenience for homeowners who use them. Most of the best-selling products in the market come with mobile apps that let owners control the entire system from any location. The apps are particularly helpful because they provide real-time alerts.

That way, people can respond promptly to any possible threats. Users can unlock and lock doors, adjust settings, and watch live video from miles away. This type of technology gives property owners the power to remain connected to their houses and have peace of mind all year round, while on vacation or shopping across town.

Protecting Holiday Deliveries

Safe Delivery Strategies

During the busiest shopping season of the year, it’s essential to protect any items delivered to your home. One way is to implement effective strategies, like scheduling deliveries to take place while you are home. That way, it’s easy enough to bring items indoors as soon as they arrive.

Consider using Amazon lockers or other methods so you can pick up your packages without having to worry about door delivery at all. Or, install a secure drop box on your porch. Package security strategies are a wise way to protect all your holiday deliveries.

Coordinate with Neighbors

To minimize the chance of theft during the holidays, coordinate your plans with neighbors. They can watch for items left at your door, pick them up for you, or give you a call when packages arrive. Set up a communication system with friendly neighbors via phone, texting, or email alerts. That way, they can let you know about any suspicious activity. Enlisting neighbors in the security system and doing the same for them is a good way to strengthen community bonds and minimize theft.

Travel Security Tips

How to Make It Look Like You’re Home

To keep burglars away, take action to make it look like you’re home, even when you’re on vacation or out for a few hours. Install timers on indoor lights. Then, turn house lights on and off at irregular intervals to create the illusion of occupancy. Also, ask a neighbor to pick up your daily mail and newspaper deliveries. Leave a car parked out front and never announce travel plans on social media. Thieves scour personal websites and social media pages to learn when families will be on vacation.

Stay Cautious Online

Be cautious about sharing travel and vacation plans online. Don’t fall for the temptation to post real-time photos while traveling. Doing so only alerts criminals of your whereabouts. Wait until returning home to post pictures and videos. Review computer privacy settings and limit who sees your posts. Avoid using public Wi-Fi for banking or other sensitive transactions.

Pre-Travel Checklist

Making a pre-travel checklist is a quick and cost-free way to boost holiday security. Create a comprehensive list of security-related tasks to accomplish before leaving for a trip. Common list items include setting timers on lights, activating alarm systems, securing doors and windows, and notifying neighbors of your plans. Put the list on your phone and on the fridge so you always have easy access to the information.

Home Security: The Bottom Line

Learning how to secure your home during the holiday season means taking action. Property owners need to know how to avoid break-ins over the holidays and keep porch pirates from swiping packages sitting on doorsteps. That’s why it makes sense to use travel safety tips for your home during the festive season. Make the most of modern technological inventions, like video doorbells and surveillance cameras.

For added security, avoid disclosing travel plans online. Consider using a light timer to make it look like you’re at home. Install smart locks, use remote monitoring, enlist the help of neighbors, schedule package deliveries, reinforce all entry points, and use motion-sensitive outdoor lighting. Be proactive and learn how to protect your house during Christmas.