Protecting Your Home During the Holidays

The holidays are fast approaching, and for many it's a time to spend with family and not to mention Christmas shopping. But what about safety? The holidays can also be high time for home break-ins and home invasions.

According to home security company, Safe Guard the World, the most recent national statistics show that over 2.5 million home intrusions happen each year. every 13 second, including armed robberies.

The good news is that here in Mississippi the number of robberies have been dropping steadily.

FBI stats over the last five years show 2,965 total robberies for the state back in 2009, which dropped significantly in 2013 to 2409, despite a slight uptick from the previous year. Also within the past five years, Jackson saw its highest numbers in 2010 with 1,086 robberies, which had dropped to 845 in 2013.

To help the trend maintain momentum, law enforcement says being safe and secure is key.

Jackson Police Chief Lee Vance says, Each homeowner should do an assessment. Take a look at windows, doors, ceilings and make sure that all those areas that are usually points of entry are secure.

There are a number of ways to ensure your safety. Perhaps the most common would be to install a security alarm. You can also install a security door like the ones made at Mississippi Ironworks. I spoke to President and Owner Cary Crawley, who broke down some of the safety features his doors have to offer, like this one that has category 4 hurricane proof glass attached to it to allow homeowners protection when someone comes knocking. Crawley says A lot of our families are retired and they're more trusting, and if a stranger does come by, this permits them to open up, be gracious and at the same time, remain secure.

Another effective, but rarely thought of line of defense is protective window screens.

Mississippi Iron Works also specializes in the heavy duty screens, designed to keep criminals at bay. Crawley explains how they work, saying, If you take a knife to this material, you're not going to be able to cut it without getting cutting torches and specialized equipment... that's going to take a lot of time. This is going to be the way to go.

These are great preventative measures, but if someone actually gets inside your home, you may consider arming yourself.

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Protecting Your Home During the Holidays