As the holidays approach, you may be analyzing how you are going to spend your hard-earned money to find something perfect for everyone on your shopping list. The time between Thanksgiving and Christmas is a busy time for retailers, for you, and also for thieves who are looking to take some shopping shortcuts at your expense. Almost every year when you pick up the paper, you see multiple stories about how burglars broke in and stole the Holiday loot from under the tree or cleaned out a car full of packages to sell for some quick cash.

Protect Yourself From Becoming A Holiday Statistic

• When you are home alone, keep your doors and windows locked. Consider having your door fitted with an audible alarm that sounds when the door is opened.
• Lock your doors before leaving the house, even if you live in a neighborhood where people leave their homes open. If you have an alarm system, always arm it before you leave and when you go to bed at night.
• Keep your garage door closed at all times. Even if you don’t have a garage door opener, it’s worth the trouble of jumping out of the car and closing the door before you drive off. An open garage door is an invitation to thieves to steal what’s in the garage, and if you have an attached garage, to break into your house without attracting much notice.
• If you are going out for the evening, turn on your outside lights and leave a light on inside to make break-ins more obvious to neighbors.
• Pay attention to what is happening in your neighborhood and report suspicious activities and strange cars. Burglars often hit multiple homes in an area where people keep to themselves.
• When you’re out and about, keep your purse close and your car locked at all times. Pickpockets and car thieves abound during the holidays when wallets have extra money and cars are loaded with shopping bags.
• >Making periodic trips to the car to stash your gifts? Put your packages in your trunk, rather than leaving them exposed on your seats.
• When you are filling your trunk, make sure that no one is watching you do it. A thief can easily break the front window to pop your trunk latch.
• Once you have your purchases home, refrain from leaving them in plain site of an intruder who may look through your window. If you are removing items such as electronics from their boxes, don’t advertise your purchases by leaving the boxes out for the garbage people.
• If you are planning on buying a big family gift this year, consider investing in new locks and maybe an alarm system as well. While not as entertaining as a new 60-inch TV, the extra safety and security for your family is well worth it.

Schedule Your Security Assessment Today

Not sure how safe your home is from holiday burglars? Affordable Locksmith Services will gladly perform a security assessment of your home and business. We will inspect the locks on your doors and windows and can add theft discouraging custom peepholes, patio Door locks, electronic locks, deadbolts and more to keep you safe. Just make an appointment online or call us at 954-271-0019 in Broward County or 561-907-4884 in Palm Beach County.

At Affordable Locksmith Services, we want to spread the holiday spirit. If you choose to give your yourself and your family the gift of security, our gift to you is a special 10% coupon off new services over $100 for your home, auto, office, or business (excludes labor charges). Make the call today for a safe holiday.