Holiday Home Safety Tips

Invest in a home security system

For deterring break‑ins and managing deliveries, a modern home security system that combines alarms with visible cameras, lighting, and strong locks is most defensible. Offender research from UNC Charlotte found many burglars avoid targets with alarms (one study from the University of North Carolina), and international analyses show burglary risk is lowest when multiple measures are used together. Today, systems increasingly support video/audio verification to reduce false alarms and help prioritize police response. Typical costs range from equipment packages of a few hundred dollars to $800+ depending on sensors and cameras, with optional professional monitoring commonly about $10–$60 per month (Consumer Reports). If you don’t know where to start, our step-by-step guide walks you through major factors, including monitoring and verification options.

Notify the local police

Alerting police or your neighborhood watch before you travel can add visible guardianship. Many U.S. agencies offer courtesy vacation checks that are exterior‑only, often volunteer‑run, and not guaranteed — for instance, San Diego County Sheriff’s and Fairfax County Police. Treat these as complementary to layered security (locks, lighting, alarms) rather than a replacement, consistent with evidence that Neighborhood Watch–style partnerships are promising when actively supported.

Keep your travel plans offline

“While you may think you’re only sharing your vacation pictures with friends and family, you’d be surprised who else may come to realize you’re out of town,” Grattan Jr. told us. Current official guidance echoes this: delay posting until you return, turn off geotags, and review privacy settings (CISA Secure Our World; NCSC tips). National datasets do not quantify what share of burglaries involve social media, but public posts can be mined as open‑source intelligence, so discretion is a practical, low‑cost safeguard.

Bring porch items inside

Beyond protecting plants from frost, clear your porch and perimeter of tools or heavy objects that could aid entry (ladders, patio furniture, large planters). If you expect deliveries, consider secure pickup locations or ask a neighbor to collect packages promptly; this reduces the payoff for opportunistic thefts, which are part of the broader larceny-theft category that increased nationally in 2023 (FBI).

Make Your Home Look Occupied

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Keep a car in the driveway.<\/strong> Visible activity — including a vehicle and occasional neighbor presence — increases perceived guardianship and can deter target selection.

Use a timer for your lights

Our experts emphasized automatic lighting. “Invest in light timers,” said Patricia Vercillo of The Smith Investigation Agency. Timers or smart plugs can mimic normal routines and reduce the window of darkness. Pair lighting with alarms and visible cameras to create layered deterrence that offenders recognize, and consider smart routines that randomize on/off times for added realism.

Leave your curtains as they normally are

Closing everything up tight can look unusual. “Do not make any drastic changes to how your home would normally look,” Vercillo advised. Keep blinds as you typically do, but move high‑value items out of sight from windows.

Keep a car parked in the driveway

“A good part of crime prevention is target hardening. A car in the driveway can be a good deterrent — it really causes a person to question whether someone is home or not and move to a better target,” Grattan Jr. told us. Remove garage remotes and visible valuables from the vehicle, and if you take your car, ask a neighbor to park in your driveway occasionally.

Ask Someone Trusted for Help

Pick up your mail and newspapers

A full mailbox or flyers on the door are conspicuous signs. Ask a trusted neighbor to collect mail, door hangers, and packages. If that’s not feasible, you can have the USPS hold your mail for up to 30 days. Many carriers and shippers offer delivery holds or lockers during travel.

Shovel your driveway

If you’ll be gone for more than a few days, schedule snow removal (or lawn care in warmer climates). Clear paths and occasional activity help your home blend in and reduce slips or ice damage around entries.

Set out and bring in your trash cans

“A burglar casing your street on trash pickup day may notice the one house whose trash cans aren’t at the curb,” Security Awareness Expert and CEO of Safr.Me Robert Siciliano told us. Have a neighbor take bins out and back — with some trash in them — to maintain normal appearance.

Prevent Damage to Your Home

Check your alarm systems

Test your security system and smoke/CO alarms before departure. Follow your security provider’s test procedure and confirm you can share video/audio clips if you use monitoring — many jurisdictions prioritize verified alarms. Test smoke alarms using the test button and replace batteries or units as needed. Verify any required alarm permits are current to avoid fines and ensure dispatch.

Prevent frozen pipes

Water damage from burst pipes is a frequent and costly winter loss — about one in 60 insured homes files a property damage claim caused by water damage and freezing in a typical year (Insurance Information Institute). A 1/8‑inch crack can spill roughly 250 gallons per day (American Red Cross). Before you leave, set your thermostat no lower than about 55°F, open sink‑cabinet doors on exterior walls, let at‑risk faucets trickle, close the garage if plumbing runs there, and insulate vulnerable pipe runs in unheated spaces (Ready.gov; U.S. Department of Energy). For high‑risk runs, use only listed, thermostat‑controlled heat cables and follow safety guidance to avoid fire hazards (CPSC heat tapes). Consider temperature and leak sensors and, where feasible, an automatic shutoff valve that can limit damage if a rupture occurs.

Unplug appliances

The benefit of unplugging nonessential devices is twofold: it reduces fire risk and trims “always‑on” electricity use. According to one study, idle (standby) loads typically account for about 5–10% of household electricity use. Focus on entertainment gear, game consoles, secondary TVs, printers, and chargers. Smart power strips can shut off peripherals when the primary device turns off, while leaving truly always‑needed gear (like your router) powered.

Decorate Safely

Keep your tree well-hydrated and away from heat sources

Christmas tree fires are uncommon but disproportionately deadly and costly. The U.S. sees the U.S. sees about 200 per year in some summaries; more recent NFPA/USFA estimates place the figure around 160 annually. Keep real trees fresh and watered (fresh needles, fresh cut 1–2 inches, daily watering), place them at least 3 feet from heat sources, and use only listed light strings. NIST burn tests show that a dry tree can reach room flashover rapidly, while a well‑watered tree burns much more slowly (NIST demonstrations). Consider LEDs, which run cooler and draw less power, and turn lights off when sleeping or away.

Childproof your decorations

Place fragile or sharp ornaments high and secure cords out of reach. Avoid food‑like decorations on low branches that invite mouthing, and keep open flames away from combustibles. Holiday decorating also leads to thousands of ER‑treated injuries each season, often from ladder falls; work methodically and supervise children around decorations (CPSC holiday safety).

Hang outdoor lights safely

Use only outdoor‑rated, listed products and protect people and circuits while decorating. Plug into GFCI‑protected, weather‑resistant outdoor receptacles with an in‑use cover; keep connections elevated and dry (ESFI). Maintain at least 10 feet of clearance from overhead power lines when handling ladders and long strings (OSHA). Follow the product’s marked maximum number of end‑to‑end connections — seasonal lighting is listed to UL 588 and intended for temporary use (≤90 days) (UL Solutions). Prefer LEDs (they use at least 75% less energy and run cooler) (DOE). For load planning, avoid overloading branch circuits; a common rule is to keep continuous holiday lighting at or below about 80% of circuit rating (IAEI on continuous loads). For information on how many lights you can safely plug into each outlet, check Energy Today’s helpful guide. Practice outlet safety indoors too: don’t daisy‑chain power strips, and replace damaged cords or sets.