Crystal Lake Cops Offer Safety Tips Against Holiday Grinches

CRYSTAL LAKE, IL - On average, a burglary happens once every 23 seconds in the United States, according to the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

While burglaries tend to increase during the summer, they are also very common during the holiday season. The FBI reports that the average burglary victim loses $2,416.

To avoid become a victim of a real-life Grinch this holiday season, the Crystal Lake Police Department is offering the following safety tips:

1. Make sure gifts aren't visible from the outside.
2. Be careful about posting gifts on social media.
3. Wait until garbage pick-up to dispose of any major packages.
4. Make sure your home is well lit.
5. Put your lights on a timer.
6. Make use of motion sensors.
7. Secure your home!

And it doesn't hurt, police said, to have a few cameras to capture any burglar in action.