How to Secure Your Home During the Holidays
The holidays should bring peace, joy, and time with family, not constant concern about what might be happening at home. With so many people traveling, shorter days, and a surge in package deliveries, houses often become more appealing targets this time of year. Many families don’t realize that December regularly ranks among the highest months for residential theft and break-ins.
Between gift-giving, parties, and time on the road, it’s easy to overlook simple security habits that make a major difference. A home that’s thoughtfully prepared, equipped with smart technology, and backed by a reliable security system lets you enjoy the season without second‑guessing your safety. The following holiday home security tips are designed for real homeowners in real neighborhoods, including communities across South Carolina.
Traveling for the Holidays? Keep Your Home Smart and Secure
If you’ll be away, treat your departure like a small security checklist. Instead of just locking the door and hoping for the best, use your smart home tools to stay connected. From a single app, you can arm your system, lock doors, adjust the thermostat, and view live camera feeds with a few taps.
Before you leave, confirm that your alarm is active, doors and windows close firmly, and cameras are covering front and back entry points. Test your notifications so you know what alerts will look like on your phone. With monitored home security in place, any unusual activity at your house can trigger both a notification to you and a response from trained professionals if needed.
Automated lighting is especially helpful when you’re gone for several days. Scheduling lights to turn on in the evening and off at night makes your home look occupied without wasting energy. Rotating which rooms light up over the week adds realism and makes your routine harder to predict.
Why Homes Are More Vulnerable During the Holidays
Several factors come together during the holidays that don’t appear at other times of the year. More homes sit empty for multiple days, more packages arrive, and darkness falls earlier in the afternoon. From the street, a house without lights, movement, or activity stands out quickly.
Inside, many people place gifts, electronics, and other valuables near windows or in open areas. If the curtains are open, these items can be seen from outside. At the same time, social media posts about travel plans or vacations can reveal that no one is home. Understanding these seasonal risks helps you focus on a few smart changes that significantly lower your chances of becoming a target.
Let There Be Light: Bright Homes Are Safer Homes
Criminals prefer shadows and hidden corners. Good lighting removes those advantages. A well-lit exterior sends a clear signal: this home is cared for and watched. Smart lighting systems make it easy to control that visibility from anywhere.
You can automate porch and pathway lights to turn on at dusk, install motion‑activated fixtures along driveways and side yards, and use smart bulbs indoors that follow your normal evening routine. When lighting is integrated with your home security, it can react instantly to motion or camera activity, bathing the area in light and discouraging anyone from getting closer.
The added benefit is comfort. Pulling up to a bright, welcoming home feels better for you, your family, and your guests, especially on dark winter evenings.
Stop Porch Pirates Before They Strike
Online shopping means more boxes at the door, and more temptation for porch pirates. The good news is that a few changes can dramatically cut your package theft risk. A video doorbell or front‑facing camera that covers your entryway lets you see every delivery as it happens. You’ll get alerts when someone approaches, be able to confirm that a package was dropped off, and have a recording if something goes missing.
Combine that visibility with secure delivery options: request signatures for valuable items, use lockable parcel boxes when possible, or route shipments to pickup lockers or your workplace. Clear lighting around your front door and visible cameras make your home a far less attractive stop for someone looking for quick, unguarded packages.
How Burglars Identify Easy Targets
Most break‑ins are not random. Intruders usually look for signs that a home is easy to approach and unlikely to be monitored. Common cues include dark porches, no movement over several days, packages piling up, and doors or windows without any visible security equipment.
By contrast, a property with cameras, motion lights, and alarm decals signals risk to anyone considering it. They know they may be recorded, confronted, or set off an alarm. When you layer multiple protections such as lighting, sensors, cameras, and a monitored alarm, you send a clear message that your home is not a simple opportunity.
Security Cameras: Your Eyes and Ears During the Holidays
Modern security cameras are powerful tools for holiday home security. They let you check what’s happening around your property at any moment, whether you’re across town finishing errands or in another state visiting family. You can quickly see who’s at the door, review motion alerts, or verify that everything looks normal.
Placing cameras at main entry points such as front and back doors, garage, and key ground‑floor windows covers the areas most likely to be used in a break‑in. Many models offer night vision, wide viewing angles, and weather resistance, keeping watch through rain, cold, and early nightfall. When integrated with a monitored system, cameras can also trigger alerts or work alongside lighting to respond automatically to suspicious movement.
The 24/7 Protection of Monitored Alarm Systems
An alarm system does its best work when someone is ready to respond every time it activates. That is what professional monitoring provides. Instead of relying solely on your phone to catch every notification, a monitoring team receives signals from your system around the clock.
If a door is forced or glass breaks, the system sends an alert for immediate review. If there’s a real emergency, responders can be contacted immediately, even if you’re on a plane, driving, or simply not near your phone. This continuous coverage is especially valuable during the holidays, when your routine is different, and your attention is often elsewhere.
Smart Home Security Tips for the Holiday Season
Smart home security ties everything together. With a connected system, you don’t have to treat each device separately; instead, lights, locks, cameras, and sensors all work as a team. A single app allows you to check status, make changes, and receive alerts.
Consider creating custom “Away” or “Holiday” modes. With one tap, you can arm your system, lock doors, adjust your thermostat, and start your lighting schedule. Smart locks let you create temporary access codes for cleaners or service providers, then remove those codes when they’re no longer needed. Every action is logged, so you know exactly when doors were opened and by whom.
The goal is to reduce the amount of mental load you carry. When your security is automated and connected, you’re less likely to forget key steps and more likely to enjoy the season without nagging worries about what you left undone.
Enjoy the Holidays With Complete Peace of Mind
Peace of mind is one of the most valuable parts of any holiday season. When your home is bright, monitored, and supported by smart security, you can focus on family, friends, and traditions instead of what might be happening at your front door.
OnDuty Security serves homeowners across South Carolina with customized home security and smart automation solutions tailored to each property and lifestyle. Whether you’re traveling, hosting guests, or simply settling in for a quiet night by the tree, a well‑designed system helps you stay protected and in control.
This holiday season, let safety be something you set up once and don’t have to think about every day. Your home deserves comfort, confidence, and lasting protection. Call OnDuty SC today to schedule a personalized home security consultation and discover how the right holiday home security plan can help safeguard your home and family all year long.
FAQ
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Start by double-checking that your alarm system is armed and monitored, then use smart lighting to make your home look lived in. Pause mail and package deliveries, ask a trusted neighbor to keep an eye out, and check your cameras remotely while you’re away. Taking a few proactive steps now can prevent a major headache later.
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Yes, they do. The combination of travel, shorter daylight hours, and stacked packages on porches makes holiday months a prime time for break-ins. Homes that appear dark, empty, or unmonitored attract attention, which is why security lights, visible cameras, and professional monitoring make such a difference.
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A video doorbell camera is one of the easiest ways to keep your deliveries safe. It alerts you when a package arrives, records who’s at your door, and lets you talk to them from your phone. Pair that with well-lit porches and secure delivery options, and you’ll greatly reduce the risk of porch piracy.
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Item descriptionAbsolutely. Cameras give you real-time visibility around your home and store clear footage if something happens. They also act as a strong deterrent; most burglars think twice when they see cameras. Many OnDuty SC customers say being able to check cameras from anywhere is one of the most reassuring parts of their holiday home security.
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Leaving a few lights on helps, but the goal is to make lighting look natural, not constant. Smart bulbs or timers that turn lights on and off throughout the evening create a lived-in look, making it hard for anyone to tell you’re gone.
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A fully monitored home security system with smart features is ideal for holiday travel. Look for door and window sensors, motion detectors, and connected cameras you can view from your phone. A professionally designed system from a local provider like OnDuty SC can be tailored to your home so you’re protected whether you’re gone for a night or a week.
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When an alarm triggers, such as a forced door or window, a professional monitoring team responds right away, attempts to reach you, and can contact emergency services if needed. With OnDuty SC’s monitoring, your home stays protected around the clock, even when you’re busy or out of town.