Christmas. The time of peace and thanksgiving, warmth and family love. Mammoth shopping sprees, Christmas trees surrounded with presents... no wonder it's not just Santa Claus that is thinking about how to get into your home.
Picture the scene. The family home late at night. There in the front window, lit up for all to see, a tell-tale Christmas tree. A breaking of glass, a quick smash and grab and yet another Christmas is ruined, as brand new goods are spirited away.
That's if the presents have made it to the home itself, of course. A busy shopper, loading presents visibly into their boot, or leaving them lying on a seat in plain view, before they go back to the shops for more. Another smashed window, another broken Christmas.
And of course, there's the lucky people who make it through the Christmas period, only to leave the empty boxes of electrical goods outside. How did they know, they wonder, when their new plasma screen television and DVD player are stolen a few days later.
It sounds like common sense but, every Christmas, thousands of burglaries happen for these three simple reasons. If you want to avoid becoming another statistic, a few simple steps can drastically reduce your chances of becoming a victim of crime.
In the car, make sure any boxes or bags are hidden, or ask store staff about home delivery or holding options, whilst you finish the rest of your shopping.
At home, lock all doors and windows and place your tree further from the window. It might not be as festive, but it's certainly more secure. If you're planning on going away to visit family or friends, it's not rocket science for a burglar to work out that open curtains at night or drawn curtains during the day mean an empty home. Use timed lights and ask a neighbour to call into your home to open and close curtains for your own peace of mind. After the big day itself, take the boxes to the tip rather than leaving them outside. Security mark and register your new goods and you could have a much happier Christmas.
They're not big steps, but they will help to make you safer in a world where not everyone believes in peace and good will to all men. If you need any more help or information, you can always call your local police or neighbourhood watch for advice.
