Could Your House Be a Target for Thieves This Holiday Season?

The FBI reports that nearly 2.5 million home intrusions occur each year, and a burglary occurs somewhere in the United States every 13 seconds.

With nearly every house in the U.S. loaded with holiday gifts, people might have you believe your home and your belongings are most at risk this time of year. But, that might not be true!

33-year law enforcement professional, Ed Deveau, Director of Law Enforcement Relations at KeyMe, has the real scoop on what are the dangers and the myths surrounding home security during the holidays. According to Deveau, who helped lead the manhunt for the Boston Marathon Bombing suspects, as Chief of Police for the Watertown Police Department, the following are five of the most common Holiday home security realities and myths, along with some common-sense tips to avoid becoming a holiday burglary statistic:

1. Holidays are the time of year when the greatest percentage of break-ins occur- FALSE
The highest percentage of burglaries actually occur during the summer months, with July and August being the most frequent months for break-ins.

2. Most break-ins occur during the day- TRUE
The most common time for a burglary to take place is between 10 am and 3 pm.

3. Thieves often use the front door to break into a house- FALSE
Many people think a burglar would never be brazen enough to simply walk through the front door, but it is one of the most common entry points for thieves. Seasoned burglars know exactly where to look for the spare key that you’ve “hidden,” and if they know you’re not home, many thieves will simply kick in the door or remove it from its hinges. 95% of all home invasions are the result of forceful entry, be that breaking a window, picking a lock, or kicking in a door.

4. The majority of break-ins are committed by burglars who live nearby- TRUE
The typical burglar resides within two miles of the target home. Because they live close, it’s easy for them to learn your family’s daily schedule and strike when they know you’re not home. They may also check for signs that you’re on vacation—such as flyers or newspapers piling up at your door, an un-mowed lawn, or trash cans left at the curb.

5. Wealthy people are the primary victims of burglary- FALSE
In reality, middle and lower-class homeowners are the most frequent victims of intruders. Burglars usually target homes right in their own communities.

Top Tips to Avoid Becoming a Victim

• Vary your routine as much as possible and have someone take care of your home when you’re out of town.
• Lock your house down. Burglars often enter through an unlocked door or window.
• Manage your keys, so you know how many copies exist and who has them. KeyMe is a new digital key management solution, offering the most secure way to store, duplicate, share and track your keys with self-serve kiosks located inside leading retailers across America.
• Don’t leave presents or gifts in plain sight for potential thieves to see.