Holiday Tips from PBA Security
Posted on Nov 30th, 2023
Make sure your home looks lived in.
- Notify the security patrol if you go out of town so we can keep an eye out for newspapers, packages, flyers, and other things that can pile up to make a home look unoccupied and like a target for burglars.
- Consider lights and/or radio on a timer when away from home so they switch on/off automatically. A lot of newer wi-fi outlets have the capability of switching on/off intermittently if set properly.
- Holiday lights on the outside of the home can also give the indication that someone is home. These, too, can be set on a timer.
Christmas Trees
Presents wrapped under a Christmas tree visible from a front window can help burglars decide whether the house is a worthwhile target. Consider closing the blinds / curtains if the tree is visible from the front of the house.
Be mindful of empty boxes from televisions, computers, game consoles, and other valuables can indicate what's inside the house after Christmas.
Social Media
- Be mindful of what you post on social media - including travel plans. Consider making your account private and only visible to friends and family.
- A family name on the mailbox or the front of the house makes it easy to identify who lives there.
- Also, remember that all homeowner information is available to the public via free online tax records. It is easy to punch in a street address, find the owner, and then search for the social media accounts of anyone by that name. Thieves are smarter than they used to be and many young adults we encounter have grown up with social media.
Storage/security of valuables
Consider purchasing a safe for the home or utilize a safe deposit box at the bank to store your most valuable items. Firearms should be secured in a safe. There are safes available that offer quick access to firearms - such as biometric fingerprint readers that quickly unlock and pop open.
Consider a home security system
- A monitored alarm will sound an audible alert and the alarm company can dispatch the police if the alarm is activated. The audible alert may be enough to cause a would-be burglar to flee if it sounds.
- There are several affordable wi-fi enabled camera systems that are easy to self-install and monitor from your smartphone no matter where you are. Some examples are Ring and Nest. We have had some really good images of burglars and package thieves from these systems over the years. The video is stored in the cloud so it can be retrieved even if the doorbell/camera is damaged or stolen. You can also be notified any time someone approaches your front door.
- Register your security cameras with APD to help identify area cameras in case of an incident. An APD investigator will contact a resident or business via email if they need assistance solving a nearby crime. Register at https://connectatlanta.org/
Fortify your home
Consider installing:
- Solid core / heavier doors
- Heavy duty locks
- Longer screws in strike plates that screw all the way into the frame.
Finally, be mindful of what's going on in your neighborhood. When residents see something that doesn't look right, call 911 and then call the security patrol phone. Many take to Facebook or NextDoor first. Social Media for each neighborhood is not monitored by the officers that are on patrol.
It takes a village to keep a neighborhood safe so keep an eye out!
We are looking forward to a safe and crime-free holiday season.
Sergeant Jeff Baxter
PBA Security Patrol Leader
Atlanta Police Department
