Grinch-Proof Your Home This Holiday

This photo illustrates a burglary or thief breaking into a home at night through a back door during the Christmas Holiday Season. View from inside the residence.

Though this holiday season may look a bit different this year, one thing you may want to consider is taking a few considered steps to help keep unwanted “guests” from breaking into your home.

Christmas can be a very risky time of year for break-ins, as many people place valuable items in the home conveniently placed under a brightly decorated tree. This makes it very important to secure your home properly during the holiday season.

The Allstate Good Hands Advice team wants everyone to have a safe and happy holiday season with these security tips to help make sure that the only one sneaking around your house is the big guy in the red suit dropping off presents – not taking them.

  • Avoid making your gifts visible through windows and exterior doors by keeping blinds and curtains closed.
  • Don’t feed exterior extension cords through open windows or garage doors.
  • Put away ladders and tools after installing decorations and lights. These items could be used to help thieves break into your home.
  • Keep your home bright and deter thieves by installing security lights and/or cameras at the front and back of your house.
    • Should you be out running errands, make it look like you’re home by using timers on your lights.
  • Cut up the boxes from your opened presents and put them in your recycling bin, or hide them in your garage until garbage day. Don’t advertise to thieves that you have new electronics or other valuable items in your home by leaving boxes on the curb.
  • Avoid telling people (other than your family and trusted neighbours) that you’ll be away. This includes messages on your personal voicemail and email, and posts on your social media profiles.
  • Don’t let snow pile up outside your home. This might signal to others that no one is home. If you’re not able to clear your walkway and driveway, arrange for a snow plow service or ask a trusted neighbor.
  • Similarly, flyers, newspapers and mail shouldn’t be left to pile up on your porch or in your mailbox. Consider using Canada Post’s Hold Mail service.

Do you have any tips to add to our list?  Share them in the comments section below!