Christmas is upon us yet again, and the entire state of Indiana is already in a festive mood. Indeed, people around the country are already gearing up for the big day in more ways than one. While it’s true that this is a time of year to be carefree and enjoy life to the fullest, it’s also a time when you need to be exceedingly careful about home security. Everyone is busy and we all know it – including the criminals and home invaders who want to do you harm.
Thankfully, staying safe this season is a lot easier than you might think. You just need to keep a few key things in mind.
Security Systems
Security SystemsThe cold winter weather can easily lead to electronic breakdown – which can spell “trouble” for your home security system. As temperatures start to drop, call your security company for routine maintenance to make sure that any problems are addressed now before they become more dangerous ones down the road.
Visibility
Winter storms always bring with them lower levels of natural visibility. Mist, fog and snow make it unfortunately easy for questionable characters to move around discreetly on your property. Always make an effort to maintain your landscape in front of your home for maximum visibility and add some lights to help keep things safe at night, too.
Your Doors and Windows
One of the most common ways that thieves enter your home actually has to do with unattended windows and doors that are not secured properly. Because of this, you should install a high-end intruder alert and prevention system for ALL doors and windows. Every entry point to your home must be secure – end of story. A criminal isn’t going to make a hole in your wall to enter your property. They’re going to use a vulnerability that is already there – so don’t make things easy for them if you can help it.
Fire Safety
Always check to make sure that all of your smoke and fire alarms are working properly BEFORE you need them. Christmas brings with it Christmas trees, warm fireplaces and other elements that, if left unchecked, can be a recipe for disaster. Don’t be sloppy or careless – that’s how the chances of an accident increase. Never leave your fireplace unattended and make sure that your tree is always a safe distance away. Take every precaution you can to avoid disaster.
Video Surveillance
A proper video surveillance system can monitor your home (and the area around it) 24 hours a day, seven days a week. A number of studies have shown that criminals generally don’t bother with neighborhoods with quality CCTV coverage. This is one investment that will absolutely pay for itself over time.
Provided that you follow best practices like those outlined above, you won’t just be able to keep yourself, your loved ones and your valuables safe this holiday season – you’ll make sure you end the year on the highest note possible, too.