Holiday Safety Tips
The holiday season is often a joyous time of giving, sharing and spending time with family and friends. Unfortunately, this time of year is also shared with a particularly high crime rate. The Texas Crime Prevention Association offers safety tips for a safe and happy holiday season.
At Home
- Be extra cautious about locking doors and windows when leaving home, even for a few minutes.
- Do not display holiday gifts where they can be seen from a window or doorway.
- Store gifts away before leaving for a holiday trip.
- Make sure burglar alarms are in working order and contact information is up to date. Test smoke detectors.
- Use only fire resistant ornaments on your holiday tree and make sure electric lights are in good working order with no frayed wires.
- Do not leave holiday lighting on overnight and consider using timers.
- Keep all outdoor security lighting on from dusk to dawn everyday.
- Never hang a wreath or decorations on a door that would block the view from the peephole.
The Mail
- Use Go Direct to switch your federal benefit paper checks such as Social Security or Supplemental Security Income to direct deposit to protect against identity theft and fraud; visit http://www.godirect.org/.
- When mailing gifts or gift cards to friends or relatives make sure to send them to a secure address and tell someone at the location that they are coming so they can monitor the mail for their arrival.
- Request that all package deliveries require a signature and are not left on your door step.
While Shopping
- Shop before dark when possible.
- Try to coordinate shopping trips with a friend.
- Never park in unlit parking areas, no matter how convenient it is.
- Lock all packages in your vehicle's trunk and hide any belongings that you leave in the vehicle.
- Keep vehicle doors locked and windows closed.
- Avoid carrying large amounts of cash. When possible, pay for purchases with a credit card or debit card. Monitor your credit accounts for unauthorized activity on a regular basis.
- Teach your children who to go to in case you become separated in a store, such as a store clerk or security guard. Children should never go into a parking lot alone.
- Never leave your purse, wallet or cell phone lying in a shopping cart or stroller while shopping.
- Take your keys out and lock your vehicle while fueling up.
Entertaining
- When hosting a holiday party, have non-alcoholic beverages available for your guests.
- Have alternate transportation available for intoxicated persons.
- If you are hosting, you are responsible. Don't let your guests drink and drive.