As the holiday season approaches, residents in our community will be gathering with family and friends to celebrate. Whether you are traveling out of town or hosting holiday festivities at home, the Lady Lake Police Department wants you to be safe. Here is a security checklist to help protect your home and family.
Before you leave town it is important to make sure your home appears occupied. Place timers on your lights and set them to turn on and off at different times. Lock your garage door and disconnect the automatic opener. Most importantly, tell a trusted neighbor that you are going to be away and ask them to dial 911 immediately if they see anyone on your property.
Here are some additional home security tips to keep in mind:
- Be sure the locks on all doors and windows are still functioning properly and always use them. If not, replace them. The cost to do so will be less than the damage and theft from a burglary.
- Stop newspaper and mail deliveries while you are away from your home.
- Never hide a spare key outside.
- Give that spare key to a trusted neighbor and provide them with an emergency telephone number where they can reach you.
- Have someone mow your lawn if you’ll be away more than a couple of weeks.
- Turn down your telephone ringer so no one outside can hear repeated rings, and never leave a
message on your telephone answering machine stating you are out of town. - Leave your window blinds as you normally would if you were home.
- Invite your neighbor to park their car in your driveway or have a friend move yours if you left
it at home. - Try to avoid posting holiday travel plans on social networking sites, if possible.
Even if you are not planning to travel, the holidays are also a time when the criminal element are looking to cash in at your expense. Here are some tips from the Lady Lake Police Department to help keep your home, your car, your possessions, and your family safe.
Keeping Your Home Safe
We all want our homes to reflect the joy of the season, but avoid displaying gifts where they can be seen from a window or doorway.
- Arrange to have packages delivered to a neighbor if you’re not home to receive them. Packages left on porches or doorsteps are “easy picking” for thieves. It also draws unwanted attention to your home.
- Consider simple outside decorations. Elaborate decorations are sometimes stolen right off the lawn.
- Be sure not to obscure the view from your windows. You need a clear view of your property.
- Always lock your home’s doors and windows, even if you’re only gone for a few minutes.
- Dispose of gift packaging discreetly. Often criminals will spot something you’ve discarded and
can target you for their next burglary or theft. - Remain Alert While Shopping
- Always lock your car and close the windows, even if you’re only gone a few moments. When possible, lock all merchandise or packages in the trunk of your car. Load your packages before departing and not at the next destination.
- Shop with at least one other person. Have your car or house key in your hand as you approach the door.
- Stay alert to your surroundings and the people around you. Look inside your car and around it as you approach.
- Be mindful of your purses and wallets. Be sure that your purse is secured as you travel to and from the store and don’t leave it in a shopping cart unattended. Keep wallets in a side pant pocket or an inside pocket of a coat, if possible.
- Avoid carrying large quantities of cash.
- Plan your trips to the stores. Instead of one big shopping trip, try several small ones. This will cut down on the amount of money you carry, the packages you will be overloaded with, and it
will make your shopping less stressful. - Park in well-lighted areas that will be well-lighted when you return.
On behalf of the men and women of the Lady Lake Police Department, I wish you all a safe and enjoyable holiday season!
