HOME SAFE HOME

With the holiday season almost upon us in Windsor and Essex County it can be an exciting and exhilarating time.  However, with the flurry of activity going on inside your home - gifts to purchase, parties to host and attend, visits to friends and family, perhaps some out-of-town trips - it can also be a lucrative time for home invaders.  Before you get caught up in the holiday mayhem, make sure you a  minute to think about home security.

Statistics Canada shows that there were over 130,000 residential break-ins reported to police in 2005 and has been on the rise every year since. Burglars know that you are more likely to have large amounts of cash and valuable new items in your home at this time of year.  Keep the following tips in mind during these busy few weeks to protect your Windsor home:

1)  Don't leve gifts and other valuables where people can see them through windows or doors

2) Don't leave empty boxes from valuable items outside for garbage collection.  This advertises the face that there are expensive new goods inside.

3) Make sure you set timers on your lights and consider putting one on a radio and/or television set too, to indicate some activity in the house when you're not home.

4) Don't leave a holiday message on your phone advising callers that you are away.

5) Turn down the volume on your phone.  Unanswered telephone calls can alert burglars to an empty house.

6) Arrange for someone to pick up your mail, maintain the outside of your house and perhaps park their car in your driveway from time to time if you're away for an extended time.  Don't forget to cancel newspapers and other deliveries too.

7) If you have a security system, notify your security company of dates that you'll be away.  Also advise your neighbours, and provide them with a number where you can reached in case of emergency.

Just being aware of the risk of a home invasion and applying some common-sense preventive measure should help you enjoy a safe holiday season!