CHAPEL HILL – The Chapel Hill Police Department is stepping up patrol over the holiday season and warning homeowners and renters to make sure your possessions are secure.

Public Information Sgt. Bryan Walker says it’s even more important now to make sure all doors and windows are locked. And, he says having alarms and signs in the yard can be a major deterrent.

“Alarm systems, even if they aren’t connected to a central alarm company, can deter theft or can deter someone from breaking into your house, they don’t necessarily prevent it, but just seeing the alarm sign in front of the house, some criminals will move on” Walker states.

Toward the end of the holiday season as you take out your trash and recycling, Sgt. Walker says you should be cautious about advertising what new items you have.

“A bad guy can ride by your house, or walk by your house, and see the empty cardboard boxes that you’ve left out in recycling and know the types of items that you have just gotten for Christmas and that are sitting there in your house waiting to be stolen” Walker states.

Some of the ways to hide what new items are in the house are to turn the cardboard boxes inside out or take them to a recycling drop-off.

For more information on ways to keep your home safe in the Holiday Season click here.

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