Secure your home for the holidays

The holiday season is ramping up. And so are burglars. Even if you don't get very festive, burglars may still target your home. Your dark, unlit home among all the dazzling festive homes will stick out like a sore thumb. Whether you have 10,000 decorative lights on or none, here's what to do:

• Keep all possible entrances (even the second-story window next to the big tree branches) locked at all times with high quality locks in excellent working condition.
• Put reinforcements on your doors so that they can't be kicked open.
• Put security film on windows so that blunt force is less likely to penetrate the glass.
• Don't let deliveries accumulate outside or your mailbox.
• Use automatically timed lighting devices to avoid a dark looking house.
• Keep blinds/shades and curtains closed at all times. I understand you want open windows to let in the light; you're not a vampire. But at least when the sun begins setting, close things up so that burglars casing your place can't see your valuables or you struggling with pushups.
• If you don't have a big dog, put a little "evidence" on the porch or front stoop that a big dog lives inside, but don't make it look staged. Ask a friend with a large dog if they have any toys they no longer need that that indicate a large breed, such as one of those huge tug-o-war ropes.
• Don't let shrubbery growth act as a hiding spot around entrances.
• Never load or unload gifts or big purchases from your car unless you're inside the garage with the door closed.
• Never boast on social media about your big-ticket items.
• Back up your data. If all else fails and your devices such as laptops or desktops are stolen, make sure you have set up cloud backup to protect your data. Whether theft or fire, having a cloud backup ensures that your information is safe offsite.
• Get a security alarm system for the house.