Filed under Apartment Safety on November 19th, 2008:
Top 5 Holiday Safety Tips
The holidays are one of the best times of the year. It’s a time to get together with family and friends, exchange gifts, and eat delicious food. However, with the holiday season comes a new set of dangers for Fayetteville apartment dwellers. To avoid theft or something even more devastating during the holiday season, check out a few of the following safety tips.
1. Avoiding Theft in the Parking Lot
The holiday season can be a hectic time sprinting around purchasing gifts for everyone you love. You’ve spent a lot of time and money on those presents. You don’t want all of your hard work to go to waste with one car break-in. When shopping, place all bags in the trunk. Never leave anything on the seats in plain view. Be sure to keep your car doors locked and don’t leave anything of value in the car when it’s parked in your apartment complex parking lot.
2. Preventing Home Break-Ins
Your Christmas tree with all of the glittering presents beneath it looks better than a postcard. However, it’s also an invite for break-ins. Keep your tree and presents away from direct view of the window. Some people passing by may be tempted to break-in if they have full view of your holiday bounty. Just remember to keep your curtains drawn while you’re not at home and be on the lookout for strangers in your apartment complex.
3. Package Drop Offs
It’s common to receive a lot of packages in the mail this time of year. Instead of having all of them dropped off at your apartment door, check to see if your apartment’s leasing office will accept your packages for you so you know they won’t be left alone on your door step for any passersby to pick up.
4. Avoiding Fire Hazards
While it’s time to deck the halls, be careful about your decorations. Read all packages carefully, keep your christmas tree and gifts away from heaters or the fireplace, and don’t overload wall sockets with tons of power strips. While you’re not at home, turn all of your decorative lights off to keep your apartment and your neighbors safe from a fire hazard. And, if you have a real tree, make sure you water it often to keep it from drying out to prevent fires.
5. While You’re Away
If you plan on leaving your apartment for a long period of time for a holiday excursion, make sure you have your mail held at the post office instead of it piling up in the mailbox. Also, have a neighbor keep an eye out for suspicious activity around your apartment. Making it seem as though you are at home and having someone watch your back will prevent mail fraud and break-ins while you’re away.
Follow these steps to protect yourself and your belongings to ensure a joyful holiday season. If you have any other handy holiday tips, share them with us in the comments!
December 15th, 2008 at 1:03 pm
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