Home safety tips for teens during the holidays

Whether it is during the holidays or all year round, safety matters when it comes to your family.  However especially during holiday times it is imperative that we not only take extra pre-cautions, we need to talk to our kids and teens about safety tips for your home.

Home Safety Tips:

• Keep valuables away from windows and/or add blackout blinds to hide them. If a criminal can see the big screen TV in your living room, it may be a tempting target.
• Verify the ID of delivery persons before you open the door. Explain to your children about the importance of this.
• Always make your home appear occupied.  Keeping some lights on, music playing, etc. You can buy timers for lights and plugs online or in stores such as Home Depot or Lowes.
• Park at least one car in the driveway and move it often.
• Do not post your vacation plans or itinerary on social media. Posting your travel plans online makes it easy for criminals to target you.
• If you are leaving town, do not stop your mail or paper service. Ask a coworker, friend or neighbor to watch your home and pick up the mail or paper for you. Only let these trusted friends know the details of your travel plans.
• Before you put up the holiday décor, take a video camera and tour your home. Walk around describing the valuables in your home. Make a list of the important items with their replacement values. Call your insurance provider and ask if your list of valuables is covered in your current policy. If not, your provider can quote a rider to make sure that you are insured.

Source: Dan Starks

Broward County Sheriff's Department offers a Staying Safe website that offers many more safety tips.

Be an educated parent, be prepared and you will have a safer holiday season.