Home security should heighten around holidays

Christmas trees shining with lights and ornaments. Lots of gifts wrapped with bows. Cookies waiting on the table for Santa. During the holidays, people anticipate seeing these things, but the local police anticipate something else -- burglars. The holidays can be a dangerous time in any family's home. Expensive gifts under the tree and holiday traveling can lure an intruder into any home. However, police are doing extra work this season to ensure the safety of your family and your gifts.

Residents can fill out a house watch form with their local police department and answer a few questions to have extra protection during the season.

Most local police have a house watch system that people can call and as a matter of fact they do about this time of year. You can advise your local police how long you will gone, what kind of lights are gonna be on in the house and cars in the driveway.

Police use this information, which they keep in their cars, to watch for suspicious activities inside a home. This system is also useful for families that spend their winters in warmer climates and don't usually return until spring.

Common sense is the key to keeping your home safe this holiday season. A few tips:

Keep gifts out of plain view from outside.

Don't leave any gaps in the windows when using extension cords for lights.

Don't leave keys under mats or rocks outside.

Don't advertise new possessions by throwing away boxes outside without flattening them or tearing them apart. However, the most basic security measure is also the one that is the most important.

Make sure the doors are locked.

Make sure car doors are locked in the driveway and make sure everything is secure.