Security Tips for the Holidays

Security Tips for the Holidays

  • Dec 23, 2016

While you are out shopping for last-minute gifts for Christmas, thieves are out shopping for homes to burglarize. Use these tips to make sure your house doesn’t make an easy target this holiday season.

Christmas Tree Display

Burglars are lazy, so they tend to look for the easiest entry and escape routes. To make it more difficult for them, don’t display you Christmas tree and presents near a front or back window. It is too tempting for them to smash a window, grab the valuables and run.

Out of Town

If you are planning on heading out for the holidays, make sure that you home doesn’t look still for too long. Thieves tend to stake out at homes that look unoccupied, so make sure you tell a neighbor to gather your mail, pick up your newspapers and report any suspicious activity around your house if you plan to be gone. To throw criminals off, use a lighting system that automatically lights up when a doorbell rings, or that you can control remotely from a mobile device.

Easy Entrance

I know that it is easy to have a spare key hidden near your house in case on day you lose yours, but during the holidays be sure to pick up any hidden keys. Burglars will be sure to look under welcome mats, potted plants and lawn decorations to see if they can find an easy entry into your home. When you leave, make sure all doors are locked and dead bolted as well as windows and garage doors are closed and locked.

Social Media Tips

Try not to post travel plans on social media. If your last name is on anything on your house, burglars will try to use Twitter, Instagram or Facebook to find out if you are gone for an extended amount of time. Don’t worry, you can still share all the photos you want from your family trip to Hawaii, just make sure you wait to share them until you are back home.

Empty Boxes

After Christmas morning when all the presents are opened, be sure you don’t stack up the empty boxes outside on your curb. You are basically displaying all your new items to the neighborhood and all those who might be looking for a house to rob. Cut the boxes into small pieces and put them in a trash bag before you put them on the curb.

I hope that these tips help you out this holiday season! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from the team at Security Today!

Featured

  • New Report Reveals Top Trends Transforming Access Controller Technology

    Mercury Security, a provider in access control hardware and open platform solutions, has published its Trends in Access Controllers Report, based on a survey of over 450 security professionals across North America and Europe. The findings highlight the controller’s vital role in a physical access control system (PACS), where the device not only enforces access policies but also connects with readers to verify user credentials—ranging from ID badges to biometrics and mobile identities. With 72% of respondents identifying the controller as a critical or important factor in PACS design, the report underscores how the choice of controller platform has become a strategic decision for today’s security leaders. Read Now

  • Overwhelming Majority of CISOs Anticipate Surge in Cyber Attacks Over the Next Three Years

    An overwhelming 98% of chief information security officers (CISOs) expect a surge in cyber attacks over the next three years as organizations face an increasingly complex and artificial intelligence (AI)-driven digital threat landscape. This is according to new research conducted among 300 CISOs, chief information officers (CIOs), and senior IT professionals by CSC1, the leading provider of enterprise-class domain and domain name system (DNS) security. Read Now

  • ASIS International Introduces New ANSI-Approved Investigations Standard

    • Guard Services

  • Cloud Security Alliance Brings AI-Assisted Auditing to Cloud Computing

    The Cloud Security Alliance (CSA), the world’s leading organization dedicated to defining standards, certifications, and best practices to help ensure a secure cloud computing environment, today introduced an innovative addition to its suite of Security, Trust, Assurance and Risk (STAR) Registry assessments with the launch of Valid-AI-ted, an AI-powered, automated validation system. The new tool provides an automated quality check of assurance information of STAR Level 1 self-assessments using state-of-the-art LLM technology. Read Now

  • Report: Nearly 1 in 5 Healthcare Leaders Say Cyberattacks Have Impacted Patient Care

    Omega Systems, a provider of managed IT and security services, today released new research that reveals the growing impact of cybersecurity challenges on leading healthcare organizations and patient safety. According to the 2025 Healthcare IT Landscape Report, 19% of healthcare leaders say a cyberattack has already disrupted patient care, and more than half (52%) believe a fatal cyber-related incident is inevitable within the next five years. Read Now

Most   Popular

New Products

  • HD2055 Modular Barricade

    Delta Scientific’s electric HD2055 modular shallow foundation barricade is tested to ASTM M50/P1 with negative penetration from the vehicle upon impact. With a shallow foundation of only 24 inches, the HD2055 can be installed without worrying about buried power lines and other below grade obstructions. The modular make-up of the barrier also allows you to cover wider roadways by adding additional modules to the system. The HD2055 boasts an Emergency Fast Operation of 1.5 seconds giving the guard ample time to deploy under a high threat situation.

  • Automatic Systems V07

    Automatic Systems V07

    Automatic Systems, an industry-leading manufacturer of pedestrian and vehicle secure entrance control access systems, is pleased to announce the release of its groundbreaking V07 software. The V07 software update is designed specifically to address cybersecurity concerns and will ensure the integrity and confidentiality of Automatic Systems applications. With the new V07 software, updates will be delivered by means of an encrypted file.

  • Mobile Safe Shield

    Mobile Safe Shield

    SafeWood Designs, Inc., a manufacturer of patented bullet resistant products, is excited to announce the launch of the Mobile Safe Shield. The Mobile Safe Shield is a moveable bullet resistant shield that provides protection in the event of an assailant and supplies cover in the event of an active shooter. With a heavy-duty steel frame, quality castor wheels, and bullet resistant core, the Mobile Safe Shield is a perfect addition to any guard station, security desks, courthouses, police stations, schools, office spaces and more. The Mobile Safe Shield is incredibly customizable. Bullet resistant materials are available in UL 752 Levels 1 through 8 and include glass, white board, tack board, veneer, and plastic laminate. Flexibility in bullet resistant materials allows for the Mobile Safe Shield to blend more with current interior décor for a seamless design aesthetic. Optional custom paint colors are also available for the steel frame.