Imagine this. You’ve spent weeks shopping for the perfect gifts, decorating your home, and getting everything ready for the holidays. However, while you are busy making holiday memories, have you thought about what criminals might be noticing? Unfortunately, criminals don’t take a holiday break. In fact, some of the things we do during this wonderful time of the year can make our homes more attractive targets.
Packages piled up on porches, expensive gifts left in plain sight, and homes that sit empty while families are on travel may entice someone looking for an opportunity to break into your home. Even a quick trip to the store can become a security concern if we’re distracted and forget to lock the door.
The good news is that protecting your home doesn’t have to be complicated or expensive. A few practical changes can make your home less attractive to criminals and help you feel more confident throughout the holiday season. Sometimes, protecting your home comes down to recognizing the little things we overlook every day. The first step you might consider is to walk outside, stand across the street, and take a good look at all areas of your home. What do you see?
Here are some practical ways to protect your home, your belongings, and the people who matter most.
Don’t Let Your Home Advertise That You’re Away
Holiday travel is exciting, but an empty home can become an easy target, especially when there are obvious signs that nobody is around.
Before leaving town, take a few minutes to make your home look occupied.
- Use timers or smart plugs to turn lights on and off at different times.
- Ask a trusted neighbor to collect mail, newspapers, and packages.
- Keep your driveway and yard maintained.
- Avoid leaving a vehicle packed with luggage in the driveway overnight.
- Make sure every door and window is locked, including those on upper floors.
One common mistake is posting vacation pictures on social media while you’re still away. Sharing your location in real time can let people know your home is empty. Refrain from posting vacation pictures on social media until you return. Enjoy your trip, take plenty of pictures, and consider sharing those memories after you return.
Protect Your Holiday Deliveries
Online shopping makes holiday gift-giving convenient, but it also creates opportunities for porch pirates. A package sitting outside your front door can attract unwanted attention, particularly during the busy shopping season.
Consider these simple precautions:
- Schedule deliveries for times when someone is home.
- Use package lockers or secure pickup locations when available.
- Request delivery notifications so you know when packages arrive.
- Ask a trusted neighbor to retrieve packages if you’re away.
- Install a video doorbell or security camera if your budget allows.
Remember that security cameras may help document suspicious activity, but they don’t guarantee that theft won’t happen. The best approach is to reduce the amount of time packages remain unattended.
Keep Gifts Out of Sight
There’s something special about seeing beautifully wrapped gifts under the Christmas tree. However, when those gifts are visible through a front window, they may also catch the attention of someone looking for an opportunity to burglarize your home.
Take a moment to look at your home from the street. Can someone see your television, electronics, packages, or presents? If so, consider rearranging your decorations or closing your curtains and blinds.
After opening gifts, be careful about how you dispose of packaging. Large boxes from televisions, gaming systems, computers, and other expensive purchases can advertise what’s inside your home. Break down boxes, turn them inside out, and place them in covered recycling containers when possible.
Make Your Doors and Windows a Priority
Your doors and windows are important parts of your home’s security. Unfortunately, they’re also easy to overlook when you’re rushing to finish holiday errands. Before going to bed or leaving home, make it a habit to check every entry point.
Pay particular attention to:
- Front and back doors
- Sliding glass doors
- Garage entry doors
- Basement windows
- Windows near decks or balconies
Make sure locks work properly and repair any that are loose or damaged. If you have a sliding glass door, consider adding a security bar or another appropriate secondary locking device.
Don’t forget the garage. Many homeowners focus on their front doors while leaving garage doors unlocked or open longer than necessary. If you use a smart garage door opener, check its security settings and notifications.
A locked door won’t prevent every break-in, but it creates an important barrier between your family and someone trying to enter.
Before You Open Your Door
The holidays bring more visitors, deliveries, and unexpected knocks at the door. While many visitors have legitimate reasons for stopping by, you should never feel obligated to open your door to someone you don’t know. If someone knocks unexpectedly, take a moment to identify them before responding.
- Use a peephole, video doorbell, or nearby window when it’s safe to do so.
- If someone claims to represent a utility company, delivery service, or charitable organization, verify their identity independently.
- Don’t rely solely on a uniform, badge, or identification card.
If you’re uncomfortable, keep the door locked and communicate through it. You can also choose not to respond. Teach children that they should never open the door for strangers without permission from a trusted adult.
Light Up the Areas Around Your Home
Criminals often look for opportunities where they can approach a property without being easily noticed. Good exterior lighting can improve visibility and make suspicious activity easier to detect.
- Walk around your home after dark and look for poorly lit areas.
- Pay attention to walkways, driveways, garages, side entrances, and back patios.
- Motion-activated lighting can be especially helpful because it illuminates an area when movement is detected.
- Keep shrubs and landscaping trimmed so they don’t block windows, doors, or exterior lighting.
Also, make sure your house number is clearly visible from the street. This can help emergency responders locate your home when every second matters.
Don’t Forget Holiday Fire Safety
Home security isn’t just about preventing theft. It’s also about protecting your family from everyday hazards. Holiday decorations, cooking, candles, and overloaded electrical outlets can create serious fire risks.
- Keep candles away from curtains, decorations, and anything that can catch fire. Never leave burning candles unattended.
- If you have a live Christmas tree, keep it watered and away from heat sources.
- Inspect holiday lights for damaged wires and follow the manufacturer’s instructions for connecting light strands.
- Avoid overloading outlets or using extension cords as permanent wiring.
- Test your smoke alarms and make sure everyone knows how to leave the house during an emergency.
If you’re hosting guests, keep exits clear and make sure visitors can find their way outside. A secure home should also be a home where people can escape quickly when necessary.
Create a Family Holiday Safety Plan
Most families have plans for holiday meals, shopping, and travel. But how many have a plan for unexpected emergencies? Take a few minutes to talk with your family about what to do if something goes wrong.
- Discuss what everyone should do if they hear someone attempting to enter the home, discover a fire, or notice suspicious activity outside.
- Identify safe exits, establish a meeting location, and make sure children know how to call 911 in an emergency.
- Keep emergency contact information readily accessible.
- If you have older family members living alone, check in regularly and help them review their home security.
The goal isn’t to frighten anyone. The goal is to make sure everyone understands what to do before an emergency happens. Confidence often comes from knowing you have a plan.
Practice Situational Awareness at Home
We often think about situational awareness when we’re shopping, walking through parking lots, or traveling. However, awareness is just as important at home.
- Pay attention to unusual activities in your neighborhood.
- Notice unfamiliar vehicles repeatedly stopping near homes, people looking into windows, or someone attempting to access a neighbor’s property.
- Not every unfamiliar person or vehicle represents a threat. Focus on behavior rather than appearance. Avoid confronting anyone you believe may be dangerous.
- If something seems suspicious, move to a safe location and contact the appropriate authorities.
Get to know your neighbors and establish ways to communicate when someone notices a potential problem. Looking out for one another can strengthen the safety of your entire community.
Make Safety a Habit Beyond the Holidays
Holiday home security shouldn’t end when the decorations come down. The same habits that protect your home during November and December can help keep you safer throughout the year. Most importantly, don’t become so comfortable with your daily routine that you stop paying attention. Small habits, practiced consistently, can make a meaningful difference.
The holidays are meant to be enjoyed and filled with laughter, family, and memories. You shouldn’t have to spend them constantly worrying about what could go wrong. While we can’t prevent every situation, we can make choices that help protect our homes and the people we love. During this holiday season, take time to make safety part of your routine.