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The holidays are here and you’ve been busy shopping for the perfect gifts for all of your friends and family. You’ve even got them wrapped and under the tree just waiting for Christmas morning. But nothing would be worse than coming home from a holiday party, only to find that the Grinch has slipped into your home and stolen your gifts.
“Christmas can be a very risky time of year for break-ins. Thieves know there are more valuable items in the home and that the owners will be coming and going a lot. This makes it very important to secure your home properly during the holiday season – both before and after,” says Allstate spokesperson, Amy Woods.
Allstate Insurance Company of Canada wants to wish everyone a safe and happy holiday season, and offers these security tips to help make sure the only one visiting your house is the big guy in the red suit. And he’ll be dropping off presents – not taking them.
- Avoid making your gifts visible through windows and exterior doors. Consider keeping blinds and curtains closed while you’re out.
- Don’t feed exterior extension cords through open windows or garage doors.
- Put away ladders and tools after installing decorations and lights. These items could be used to help thieves break into your home.
- If you’re heading out for the evening make it look like you are home by using a timer on your lights.
- If you’re going away over the holidays, your answering machine message shouldn’t tell people that you’re away from home – consider having a neighbour check the messages so your inbox doesn’t fill up.
- Arrange for a snowplow service to clear your walkways and driveway if you’re going away. Don’t let snow pile up outside your home – it signals that you’re not around.
- If you’re going on vacation, make sure you have someone pick up your mail and newspapers so they don’t pile up outside.
- Cut-up the boxes from your presents and put them in your recycling. Don’t advertise to thieves that you have a new stereo or TV in your home.
- Keep your home bright and deter thieves by installing security lights on the front and back of your house.
For more information or other suggestions for holiday security tips or to arrange an interview with an Allstate spokesperson, please contact:
Karen Nussbaum
Thornley Fallis Communications
(416) 515-7517, ext. 334 / (647) 294-3321
nussbaum@thornleyfallis.com
