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Tips to Keep You Safe During the Holiday Season

Holiday season safety tips may not always be at the forefront of your mind Staying safe, however, is very important this time of year. We’re all busy rushing around buying gifts, visiting relatives and trying to cram everything in. Often we find ourselves running out to the mall on short notice and not paying attention to our surroundings. Other times we’re unaware that some of our habits that may be deemed unsafe.

Safety Tips for the Holiday Season at Home or When Traveling

A recent study, Seasonal Patterns in Criminal Victimization Trends by the U.S. Department of Justice discovered some interesting facts. Larceny (theft of personal property) during the month of December is 22 percent higher than the average rate of larceny for all other months combined. This is very telling and evidence that in the hustle and bustle of the season, it is important to take steps to stay safe during the holidays. The following tips are designed to create awareness around certain activities that will ensure a safe and happy holiday season.

Staying Safe While Doing Your Holiday Shopping

When it comes to going out to stores to complete your Christmas shopping, there are many ways to stay safe. The holidays are a joyful time of year, visiting decorated department stores, bringing the kids to meet Santa and enjoying the giving spirit is a big part of what makes the season fun. When you arrive at a shopping center, be sure to park in a well-lit area close to the entrance. As you leave a mall or shopping center and are walking to your car, be mindful of your surroundings. Look in your car and around it before you get in and if you’re concerned about the walk to your vehicle, do not hesitate to ask security to accompany you to the parking lot. 

Car Safety During the Holidays

Sometimes it’s a rare feat to get out without children in tow, so as moms, we try to cram in visiting 5 different stores in one quick trip. It’s easy to lose sight of staying safe in the excitement of finding just the right gift or getting that perfect deal. Never leave valuable items in a spot that is easily within view of a passerby. Store bags and gifts in the trunk and leave your personal valuables there as well. Be sure handbags, phones, and other packages are not in the front seat and easily accessible for thieves. 

Many key fobs are equipped with electronic ‘panic’ buttons that you can press in an emergency. While it’s not an ideal solution, the loud noise may deter someone you notice seems to be approaching you. When you are finally safely in your vehicle, don’t hang around in the parking lot to text someone or check Facebook. Get in, get out and stay safe during the holidays by being fully aware of your surroundings and not lingering in certain areas alone. 

How to Keep Your Home Safe During the Holidays

If you’re traveling during the holidays, you’re likely already taking steps to keep your home safe and property safe. If you’re on social media often, it’s important to be very vague about holiday travel. Never announce you’re taking a trip or post photos from your vacation destination. This tells people that your home is ultimately empty for a length of time. Regardless of any privacy or safety settings you use online, it is advised not to post about where you’re going, or when you’ll be back. Social Media being what it is though, this is often not feasible. Many people earn an income from social media and discussing new attractions or hotels you’re visiting is part of your job. If this is the case, be sure to stay as vague as possible and not post about a certain location until after you’ve left.

Safety Tips for the Holiday Season at Home or When Traveling

Safety Tips for Your Home During the Holiday Season

On the homefront, having a friend or neighbor keep track of your mail and keep an eye on your house is advised. Another deterrent to theft is to have a security camera like Ring doorbell camera set up at your front door. Not only does this deter porch thieves, but it also allows you to see activity around your home from your cell phone, wherever you are. 

Speaking of porch thieves, aside from a doorbell camera, there are other ways to keep your home safe during the holidays. If you’re like me and purchased several items on Black Friday, they all tend to be delivered around the same time. It may be worth it to use an Amazon locker so deliveries can be sent there for you to pick up at a later date. 

Hotel Safety During the Holidays

Safety tips during the holiday season extend to your hotel stays when traveling. Traveling for many families is a big part of the holidays. When planning your holiday travel, it is important to make sure you’re staying in a hotel with favorable reviews in a decent location. Location being relative, ideally it makes more sense to ensure that you’re not staying in a remote location far from hospitals, police stations or basic amenities. 

When you do finally book a hotel, try not to use your first name if possible. Ideally just your first initial and last name should work. By leaving out the gender, you’ve already potentially removed yourself as a target of crime. It’s important to note that crime does happen to all genders and iterations in between but it doesn’t hurt to be nondescript as possible when booking your hotel room. Try to refrain from staying on the ground floor for safety reasons. 

Safety Tips When Staying at a Hotel During the Holiday Season

When out and about after you’ve left your hotel room, never discuss where you’re staying with restaurant waitstaff or other vacationers. You may be the most talkative and friendly person, and that is fine, but don’t give out too much information. Be sure to grab a business card from the front desk in the event that you need the phone number of the hotel you’re staying at during the holidays. For safety reasons, it makes sense to have the number close by when you need it instead of fumbling to find your phone and get to Google to look up the number. Additionally, taking your phone in and out of your pocket or bag is a great way to accidentally lose bank cards or other valuable items. 

When leaving your hotel room, leave the Do Not Disturb sign on your door and turn the television on. This lets people think there is someone in the room. It’s a great way to ensure your safety. When returning to your hotel room during your stay, always use the main lobby entrance. Back doors and side doors may seem more convenient, but the main entrance is your best bet. Ideally, traveling with a group is best but if you are alone, some of these basic precautions will keep you safe when traveling during the holidays.

Taking a few extra steps to ensure your personal safety can mean the difference between a happy holiday season and a tragic one. These tips offer a great starting point for staying safe. With some forethought and mindfulness, you’re sure to have a happy, healthy and joyful holiday season.

 

9 Comments

  • Tara Pittman
    December 12, 2019 at 8:08 pm

    I will be using these hotel tips when I travel. I travel alone several times a year and I never considered my risk like this.

    Reply
  • Marcie W.
    December 12, 2019 at 9:07 pm

    You never can be too careful, especially around the holidays. These are great tips to keep in mind.

    Reply
  • Amy Desrosiers
    December 12, 2019 at 11:23 pm

    I always get extra freaked this time of year! I feel like robberies are way higher this season than ever! Thank you, for these tips.

    Reply
  • Brianne Tursi Manz
    December 13, 2019 at 12:52 am

    I’m always reading stories about people’s houses being robbed during the holidays and it’s so sad and alarming. Thank you for these tips, which cover a variety of situations.

    Reply
  • Tami Qualls
    December 13, 2019 at 1:25 am

    I always worry about being robbed during this time where we are bringing home lots of gifts for loved ones. I try my best to always go shopping with someone because of potential harm.

    Reply
  • Kathy
    December 13, 2019 at 2:26 am

    These are some really good tips. I think it’s especially important to be careful around the holidays. I know many who leave for the holidays, so we always watch out for each other and watch over everyone’s homes.

    Reply
  • Monica
    December 13, 2019 at 5:09 am

    Excellent advice here! I especially like the one about only using your first initial when booking a hotel. I never would’ve thought to do that!

    Reply
  • katrina Kroeplin
    December 13, 2019 at 1:36 pm

    those are great tips. you can never be too careful. during the holidays we are so busy it’s easy to let our guard down.

    Reply
  • Eileen M Loya
    December 13, 2019 at 5:15 pm

    Such a timely read. It is sad that some people take advantage of this season to rob other people’s homes and belongings. We should still be on guard and practice vigilance so we can keep our family and property safe from wrong-doers.

    Reply

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