Remember when the Grinch Stole Christmas? "On their walls, he left nothing but hooks and some wire. And the one speck of food that he left in the house was a crumb that was even too small for a mouse."
Dr. Seuss' wonderful Christmas tale is unfortunately a reality that we all must face this time of year. There are many Grinches just waiting to steal our Christmas. Below are some tips, courtesy of the New York Times to stop these would be Grinches in their tracks:
- Don't share your vacation plans online. Social media blogs are fun and friendly, but because many are location based -they are also used by criminals to target homes for burglary.
- Don't post pictures of your home or valuables online. Some photos may post with geotagging - making the location of the photo visible online.
- Make it look as if you were home. You may want to have light timers set, have a neighbor park in your driveway and/or stop your mail or newspaper delivery.
- Remove all valuables from your car. Electronics are in demand. Remove all your portable electronics including hiding your GPS to make your car less appealing to thieves.
Be aware when checking out your purchases. Thieves are utilizing their camera phones to take pictures of your credit card, debit cards, or checking account information. Shield your card or checking account information when making your purchase. If your card is compromised, a credit card may offer greater consumer protection than a debit card which links directly to your bank account.
Hopefully, nary a Grinch will visit your door or store this year; But if one does, rest assured that you will be better prepared for him than little Cindy Lou Who.
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