The Burglar's Holiday Wish List!

How to stay safe this holiday season.

Published: December, 2011

In my 18 years of experience, seeing it again and again, it's still heart-trenching to meet people who just got their homes compromised, or businesses broken into, and all of their valuables, heirloom, or commercial assets stolen; not to mention, God forbidden, anyone incurring a physical injury or even worse!

We have compiled a list of the most wanted items by burglars and thieves, we call it the: "The Burglar's Holiday Wish List", beacuse its exactly what on our wish list that they want to put their hands on.

The Holiday Season is the most common time that residents and business are being broken into, many of us are on vacation, out of our homes. On many occasions our premises lack the most basic security features that can deter and prevent burglars to even try to break-in. Burglars look for the easiest place and there are many of those, and prefer those on the more challanging places that security features are obvious to the eye, and where the owners took the extra mile to secure thier places. Buisness are more valnrabale as well in the holiday season, many are closing for longer periods of times, at others there are more business, and chaotic environment where it's harder to control the environment, with less people around, and employess are stressed about their holiday's arangements and concerns.  

Deterence is the Nr. One most importnat factor in all of the security aspects, better prevent than even get targeted by by those who might want your harm.  And most importantly securing your valuables goes hand in hand with securing your dear ones, where security is a basic need all year around as well. In the end of the day, we all agree that the most important things in life are our close ones, our faimly, friends, employees, and coworkers.

That why I say Better be Safe Than Sorry!

I highly recomand to asses your personal security level at home and business and to stregthen your valnrabule points around you home and businesses. This can be done by yourself, or professionlly assessed, but be sure to at least take the most basic steps mentioned below, like lock all widows, and doors, activate your alarm sys, etc.

Unfortunately, not everyone is jolly when thinking about what to give during the holiday season. Some people are only thinking about what they can take!

"The Burglar's Holiday Wish List"

This is one wish list you don't want to be part of.

Here are the most stolen items you should secure and keep an eye on this holiday season, followed by a list of tips and tactics to help keep you safe; so you, your family and loved ones can have safe and happier holidays:

• Iphones • LapTops • IPads  • IPods • Smat Phones •

• Game Consoles • Digital Video Cameras  • Entertainment Systems •

• Cash • Wallets  • Purses • Jewelery  • Car Keys • 

• Personal info for identity Theft: Old Computer Hard Drives •

• Credit Cards • Old Duocuments •  Buisness cards •

• Sensetive photos and Videos •

• Keys  • Tools • Prescription Drugs •

How to stay safe this holiday season:

• Be extra cautious about locking doors and windows when you leave the house, even for a few minutes.
• Indoor and outdoor lights should be on an automatic timer.
• Leave a radio or television on so the house looks and sounds occupied.
• Large displays of holiday gifts should not be visible through the windows and doors of your home.

Protect Your Home While You're Away.Burglary Defense Tips:

• Have a neighbor pick up your mail and newspapers.
• During an extended vacation, make arrangements to have someone mow your lawn or trim your bushes.
• Notify your local police department that you will be away.
• Ask a neighbor or friend to stop by your house periodically; have them open and close blinds, turn on different lights.
• Let your neighbors know when you are leaving and when you plan to return home and if you are expecting anybody at your house while you are away.
• Burglars want easy access to your home. Make sure all trees and shrubs are trimmed near all doors and windows where intruders might hide. Add exterior lights and consider lights that are activated by motion sensors.

Burglars like to work quickly, so try to slow down their path into and around the house. You can accomplish this with:

• 1. high quality deadbolt locks
  2. high quality window locks
  3. bars placed in the tracks or track locks on all sliding glass doors and windows (if they would not impede your escape in an emergency)
  4. high quality locks on all doors and windows
  5. Security Cameras with online remote viewing, (prices are very reasonable these days), or at least a demmi one- only for private residences.
• Don't place the fact that you are gone on your telephone answering machine.
• Don't broadcast the fact that you'll be away on Twitter, Facebook, any social media pages, in your blog, in your blog or anywhere else on the Internet.
• Don't hide your keys on your property.
• A nosy neighbor is a burglar's worst enemy. Get to know your neighbors and work out an arrangement to watch each others houses. Let them know when you will be gone and whether any deliveries are expected during your absence.
• Store jewelry and other valuables in a safe hiding place, such as a safety deposit box or a bolted down safe.
• Go through each room and write down a list of possessions, including serial numbers. Take pictures of your valuables and keep them in a safe place or with a friend or relative. This will help in the event of a burglary.

Source: LAPD Crime Prevention Section

Remember also to change or "Re-Key" your locks to make sure that no one has a copy of the key to your home or office!

Wishing you a Happy and Safe Holiday Season!

Avi Ben David 

Professor Security

Feel free to give me a call on my direct Nr. 818-980-1241 Ext. 7010

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