By Elsie Puig for TCAJOB
Imagine you?re packing up your bags in the trunk of your car and heading to airport to catch your plane to paradise. Your vacation time is here and you?re ready to relax for the holidays.
But the moment you are 10 miles from home, you wonder if you closed the garage door or if your business will be vandalized.
Unfortunately, it?s common for these things happen during the holidays and it can ruin a holiday. But you can protect yourself, your home and your business.
Most crimes during the holidays are crimes of opportunity, according to experts.
?That means the holidays can make us vulnerable if we are not vigilant,? said Mike Miller, president of Moon Security, which has been protecting the Tri-Cities for over 55 years as a regional First Alert dealer.
Miller said it?s important to maintain consistent safety measures not only during the holidays, but throughout the year.
During October, which is Fire Prevention Month, they developed a marketing campaign to remind businesses, families and customers of the importance of shielding your home from potential fire hazards. They recommend replacing the battery on your smoke detectors regularly and installing carbon monoxide detectors in your home.
?One of the biggest concern for a majority of people is fire,? said Miller.
Miller said dried-out Christmas trees and an increased use of space heaters during the winter can create more hazards than normal. The use of space heaters increases the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning, he added. Miller said people should be very cautious when using space heaters to make sure there is adequate ventilation. And, as far as that Christmas tree? Keep it watered and dispose of it properly as soon as the holidays are over.
There is also a regular rise in vehicle prowls and burglaries during the holidays, so residents should make sure to lock their parked cars and their homes. Miller also recommends setting up proper outdoor lighting to act as a deterrent to crimes.
?Christmas gifts and time away from home can create more opportunities for criminals,? said Miller. ?One thing that usually works in our favor is that crime rates tend to drop with colder weather.?
But using social media carelessly can be an invitation to thieves.
?Unfortunately with social media, people old and young will inadvertently reveal when they will be away from home,? said Miller. ?This can give the thief a window of opportunity that they might not have had otherwise.?
Timothy Andrews, Moon Security marketing director for Moon Security knows from personal experience that over-sharing can have serious consequences.
On a Thanksgiving trip to Utah his children were posting online about their holiday trip. A friend of a friend burglarized their home and stole their computers, which were later tracked through a Craigslist ad ? all because they had innocently posted their whereabouts online.
Moon Security encourages families to discuss the importance of discretion when it comes to revealing schedules away from home.
Miller said overall crime has dropped considerably as people become more aware of the technology and tools available to protect themselves, their families and their possessions.
Moon Security?s main customer demographic consists of business owners with facilities that need to be monitored for property security or personnel safety. New technology has created security systems that allow people to find a missing item or person through a GPS tracking system. For business owners, that means their most valuable inventory and property can be secure and tracked in the case of theft.
For more safety tips and information on Moon Security in Pasco call 545-1881 or go online to www.moonsecurity.com.
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