The holidays are a time to gather with family and friends, celebrate family traditions, and exchange gifts with loved ones. Unfortunately, after the holidays is the busiest time of the year for home burglars, robbers, and vandals. Too often individuals and families are completely unaware of all the ways they can make themselves a prime target for thieves looking for a quick robbery of electronics, high-end toys, art, luxury clothes, cars, jewelry, and cash. In today's blog post, we'll look at four ways you can keep your home or apartment safe from thieves eager to strike after the holidays.

Be Discreet With Your Trash

If your family received a large television, game console, tablet, camera, smartphone, laptop, or other high-end electronics for the holidays, break down the box and dispose the cardboard in a large recycling bin or black garbage bag. Thieves will often target homes with large boxes set out with the trash since it clearly advertises what they might find inside. This is true not just around the holidays, but throughout the year as people may make big-ticket purchases for birthdays, anniversaries, or around major sporting events.

Secure Your Windows

Don't allow passersby to see inside your home. Open curtains or blinds can make it evident to a thief what all is inside your home, and if everyone has left the house. In addition, don't run outdoor lights through a window to reach an interior outlet. The cord may cause the window to not fully close or latch, allowing thieves a chance to quickly gain entry.

Lights, Camera, Action

Make sure your home is always well lit at night, especially if you live in a neighborhood without bright street lamps or if your home has a lot of trees blocking visibility. Consider adding motion sensor lights around the perimeter of your home, in addition to regular porch lights. Along with lights, a security camera can also help deter thieves from entering your home, and it can help identify criminals who vandalize or steal property from the exterior of your home, like packages or seasonal décor.

Use Caution On Social Media

Finally, it's important to understand that while social media can be a fun and entertaining way to connect with others, it can also be used against you if you're not cautious about your posts. Always avoid posting photos or sharing information about your newest gifts or expensive presents, as these can also be a tip-off for thieves or vandals to target your home, apartment, or vehicle. Even if you only give access to your social media accounts to friends and family, you never know which of their friends or acquaintances might inadvertently see your information and make your home their next target.

Sadly too many individuals and families spend time after the holidays dealing with the shock and grief of home burglaries or vandalism. With these simple steps, you can have a safer, more peaceful home with those you love. In addition, you can also have more security and peace of mind with quality personal insurance coverage from Aegis Insurance & Financial Services. At Aegis, we strive to provide all our customers with reliable, comprehensive insurance solutions that meet their unique needs, all at competitive rates. Call Aegis today at 713-850-7622 for more information about our full line of Personal and Commercial Insurance policies, or go online for a free quote today!