Tuesday, December 17, 2013

Some reminders for Christmas

Happy Holidays every one, I’m here to remind all of you that even if Christmas Day is looming next week to please stay safe. The holidays are always hectic, and you can still get in trouble even if you’re just shopping. Just take a look at some of the extreme cases of Black Friday shenanigans - definitely not a nice way to start the holidays indeed.

Always keep your guard up, certain crimes like assault, burglary, theft, and general disorderly behavior have been observed to rise during the holidays. For a fun and safe holiday for the whole family, keep these reminders in mind.

Be responsible when drinking
Festivities and alcohol might be a combination that makes sense, but it’s not if it lands you in jail. Again, do not drink and drive because it can be fatal, unless you have someone to take you home safely. The police also do not appreciate disturbances brought by alcohol, and they do not care if it’s the holidays because they’ll arrest you just the same.

Secure the house at all times
Before going to sleep every night and before leaving the house alone, make sure that all doors and windows are locked tight.

When leaving the house for a long time, get someone to watch over it for you
You don’t want your holidays to end up in a sad note when you see that your house has been broken into. Find neighbors or friends willing to watch them for you while you are away, and tell them how long you are planning to be away.

Put presents under the Christmas tree only on Christmas Day
Presents are very tempting targets to burglars, particularly gifts under the tree. That’s why it’s best to leave them empty until Christmas arrives. It’s also wise to avoid leaving presents in the car, not only will you lose those presents, but you might lose the car too.

Let there be light at Christmas time
If you’re not doing it already, lighting up your whole home can discourage robbers from entering it. Using timed switches also ensures that your light will periodically turn on even when you’re away.

Know who your visitors and callers are
The holidays are also rife with scammers. Always have some suspicion for anyone you are not expecting to visit. The same goes for callers, though it helps if you have caller ID.

 Be careful when shopping online

Again, scammers take a lot of people advantage whenever the holidays arrive. Make sure that you know that your payment method (credit cards rather than debit cards) is secure and your contact is legitimate. Be very careful when giving out personal information.