Sheriff: Holiday Home Safety Tips

The McHenry County Sheriff office recommends a few crime-prevention tips for residents as they enjoy the holiday season.

Sheriff Keith Nygren reminds residents to practice safety around their homes, while shopping and traveling. Nygren issued a press release on Thursday listing safety precautions residents should abide by this time of year.

Residential Safety Tips:

Don’t display holiday gifts where they can be seen from a window or door. Put gifts away before leaving on a holiday trip.

Whenever leaving the house, residents should make sure to lock doors and windows. This may seem simple, but many burglaries occur to unlocked homes and cars.

Turn on lights and a radio or television to make a home appear occupied.

If traveling for the holidays, homeowners should entrust a friend or family member to watch over their house.

Have mail and newspapers picked up, and, if out of town, people should prearrange snow-removal from driveways and sidewalks.

Mark valuable items with an identifying mark. Document precise personal belongings with photographs, or write down the make, model, and serial number of valuables as well.

Avoid leaving boxes from recent purchases - especially televisions, computer products, I-Pods and I-Pads - visibly out at the curb for trash pickup.

Be wary of strangers soliciting for charitable donations. If residents choose to make a donation, they should consider giving to local reputable groups or organizations they have had contact with in the past.

Be aware of people posing as city employees or from utility companies needing to check service. Homeowners should ask to see worker credentials and contact the proper company to verify why the service personal is at their residence. Residents should remember: if they didn’t call for assistance, why is a service person at their home? If alarmed, residents should contact police.

Homeowners should test smoke detectors, and should not leave Christmas lights on while they are away or sleeping.

Residents living in unincorporated McHenry County can contact the McHenry County Sheriff’s office at 815-338-2144 to request a vacation house watch during the time they are away, the press release said.