Holiday Season Tips From Homeland Security

In the late 1950s, the Grinch stole Christmas as Whoville slept. If his heart were still "two sizes too small" today, he might use Cindy Lou's Facebook posts to time his heist.

The Indiana Deaprtment of Homeland Security is reminding Hoosiers to take extra precautions to keep themselves and their property safe this holiday season, including being smart about what information is posted to social media.

“If traveling over the holiday season, especially for an extended period of time, do not discuss your plans with strangers or post them to social media sites,” said John Erickson, IDHS director of public affairs. “You could become a target for thieves.”

There are also some other steps you can take to help ensure the security of your home as you travel this holiday season. 

• Have a trusted friend or neighbor keep an eye on the home.
• Use light timers to turn on lights or a TV to give the appearance someone is home.
• Use window coverings such as curtains or blinds to decrease visibility into the home.
• Label valuable items, such as stereos and televisions, with a unique identification number.
• Create an up-to-date home inventory list, and store it in a secure location.

Safe Travels

Weather can vary greatly in the Midwest, and IDHS also recommends planning ahead when traveling by car this winter. Consider putting together an emergency travel kit and checking supplies already stored in vehicles:

• Bottled water
• Shovel
• Sand or kitty litter
• Extra blankets
• A hand crank flashlight or battery powered flashlight with extra batteries
• Jumper cables
• Chargers for cell phones and mobile devices
• Nonperishable food
• First-aid kit

IDHS has more holiday safety and winter weather tips at GetPrepared.IN.gov. You can also find information from the agency on Twitter and Facebook.