MORGANTOWN — The holiday season is a special time of the year. It is also a time when you may be more vulnerable to theft or other holiday crimes. Burglars and thieves often take advantage of the season and break into homes.
Al Kisner, chief deputy of the Monongalia County Sheriff’s Department, said you should take extra precautions around the holidays to keep your home safe.
He said one of the first rules is not to put pictures or information that you are traveling on social media. This alerts possible criminals that you will not be home. Your blog isn’t the best place to announce you will be away during the holidays.
“If you live in a municipality, contact law enforcement and let them know you will not be home,” Kisner said. “We do vacation watch. We have the home owner fill out a form. Then a deputy will go out and routinely inspect the home and make sure everything is all right.”
He said if you are having neighbors or relatives who are also keeping a watch on the home, let law enforcement know their names and what they drive.
“Have a trusted neighbor take in any packages or fliers you might get,” Kisner said. “Be sure and stop your newspaper and mail service.”
Call the post office and have your mail held until you return home. When newspapers and mail pile up, it signals to burglars the owner is not at home.
Kisner said to make sure your home looks lived in.
“If you stay up and watch the news until 11:30 before you turn off the lights, set a timer to turn your light off at 11:30.”
He said this goes for any outdoor lights or other indoor lights. Don’t change your routine. The more normal your home looks, the better.
Kisner said one of the most important things you can do to keep your home safe over the holidays make sure all of the doors and windows are securely locked.
“Lock your garage and any cars you are leaving behind,” Kisner said. Locking your home makes it less attractive to burglars.
“I remember a couple of years ago a lot of burglaries and break-ins happened at student housing,” he said.
Kisner said this happened because criminals knew the students were on Christmas break and were out of town.
As an additional fire safety tip, he said make sure the Christmas tree is turned off and unplugged when you leave the house.
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