Keep your home safe during the Holiday season

Families work very hard in order to provide for their family, and extra hard to put presents under the Christmas tree for the little ones. It costs money to put presents under the tree, but the presents also have sentimental value. When a criminal illegally violates the sanctity of your home and takes away those special items you worked so hard to get, it can greatly impact everyone in your household. The Lemoore Police Department and I am going to give you a number of suggestions and tips that we hope will prevent a holiday season burglary in your home.

 Whenever you leave town, let your trusted neighbors know so they can keep an extra eye on the house. If possible, have a trusted friend or family member stay at your house while you are gone. Always keep good communication with trusted friends and family on who is supposed to be staying at your house.

Be careful what items you put onto social media (especially Facebook) because you never know who is tracking your profile. Writing statuses on your account saying you are going to be on vacation and away from your residence, is never a good idea. With this day and age, it is very easy for criminals to find out information about you through online sources. Make sure you filter what items you share on social media, and expect what you put online to be visible to the general public no matter how private you think it is. Keep in mind that you are more than welcome to call the police department and have an officer check on your house while you are gone.

 Install a home security system. If the funds are available, have a trusted company, with a good reputation and all the valid credentials, install a home security system in your home. Burglars do not want a challenge when they are breaking into a house; the easier it is to get into your home, the better for them. A home security system may not stop a burglar from initially breaking into your house, but it can prevent them from stealing those important items.

 Always lock up. Never leave your house unsecured when you leave. An unlocked door is basically inviting a burglar into your home. If you have a spare key to your house, do not leave it under a rock or a doormat. You may think you are being sneaky, but trust me that trick has been around for decades and is well known to burglars.

 Keep window shades closed. Do not give a stranger walking by an opportunity to look inside your house to see what valuables you have. Install motion sensor lights. Most burglaries happen during the hours of darkness, so try to keep your residence well lit. A motion sensor light may seem small, but it may change a burglar's mind and prevent him from breaking into your house.

 Most importantly, if you see someone or something suspicious, call the police department. Most people do not call the police department because they think it is minor and they are wasting our time. Police Officers get paid to prevent crime and help people. Please do not hesitate to call the police if you think something is wrong or out of the ordinary.

Not all of these tips will guarantee that your house won't get broken into, but they can significantly lower your chances and help you have a safe and happy holidays.

If you have any questions or comments concerning this article, please contact me at the Lemoore Police Department: Officer Steven McPherson at 559-925-6850, or Lemoore Departmenjt at 924-9574 or steven.McPherson@lemoorepd.com.