The holidays are going to be here before you know it. With the holidays comes decorating the house, an abundance of friends visiting, family vacations, and just all-around good, happy vibes. However, with the surplus of packages getting delivered to your door (all the presents you're ordering), the number of people coming in and out of your house, and the possibility of you leaving your home vacant while you're away, it makes sense to want to add more security.

To avoid any unwelcome visitors (with the exception of Santa Clause, of course), here are some home security tips for the holidays that you should know to prepare you.

Act like you're home, even when you're not

If you're traveling during the holidays, thieves and burglars are enticed to break in (think of a Home Alone-type situation). Since your home is more susceptible to breaking in, program it to make it seem as if you're home.

You can do this by setting your indoor and outdoor lights on a timer to make them go off at random times of the day and night. You can also program your radio or TV to turn on or off to give the illusion that someone is making noise at him. This can all be done through a smart home system, or through your phone so you can play around with the programming, even when you're away.

Lock your garage

If your garage is attached to your home, it's super important to ensure it's locked from the inside so no one can get to your house that way. If your garage is a stand-alone, it's still important to lock it so no one breaks in to get any valuables that you may store away in there.

It's also super common to leave your car garage opener in an unlocked car that's not parked in the driveway, giving burglars easy access to both your car and the garage. Wherever that garage opener is, keep it with you at all costs, and do not leave it seen out in the open in a car!

Ship your packages to work

Porch pirates are out and about normally, but especially during this time of year thanks to all the online ordering we do for getting presents with ease. Instead of leaving them outside your home in the open, try shipping them to your workplace, or wherever you typically are during the day, to lessen the chance of your package getting stolen, Or, if you know someone who's home during the day, wither shop it to their house or have them pick up your package at your home for you until you can grab it.

Put your spare housekey elsewhere

That good ole spare key under the welcome mat? It might be time to change up the hiding spot. Common, expected places make it easier for thieves to find. Or, if you've given your key hiding spot out to tons of people, it may have slipped out to anyone else. The point is, you don't need too many people where you're hiding your key, and you don't want to make it easy for someone to find. Hide your spare key in a spot where only you and your family would know, or make it really complicated to obtain (such as buried in tons of soil in your plant in the backyard).

Require referrals from professional services

It's also important to remember that whomever you invite into your home should be someone you can trust. If you are hiring a housekeeper or maid service to clean up before the holidays, hiring a service to help hang your holiday lights, or getting someone for HVAC services before a big party, make sure you check to see if they're a real company and not a fraud, and not someone trying to steal from your home. Get referrals from their company, check their website, and just do some research before inviting them into your home.

Interested in Learning More?

Contact ATI today for a zero-pressure consultation to discover what solutions may be best to help accomplish your technology needs. We look forward to speaking with you soon.

James Needham

Owner and CEO, ATI

Proudly Protecting and Enhancing Southern California Properties Since 2008.

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