The holiday season can serve as a prime time for thieves to break into your home and grab your gifts.
Fortunately, there are a number of security measures you can take to protect your property. You can get complex and install all sorts of security devices or take an easier route like asking your neighbors to watch over your home while you're away.
Richard Burchfield of Fresno arms his home with an alarm system.
“That's great piece of mind considering what we've been through in the past and everything here,” said Richard Burchfield.
The Burchfiels were burglarized two years ago, so they bought an alarm which they now set everyday.
“You go on about your business and you know when you come home that it's still going to be there in tact,” said Burchfield.
Police recommend you do simple things like turn on porch lights, lock doors and close shutters.
“Please don't put your Christmas tree in front of the window with presents under it because you've got valuables that are easily accessible and somebody can break that window,” said Janet Stoll-Lee of the Clovis Police Dept.
Many of us are expecting packages to be delivered to our doorsteps, but if you’re not home, thieves might prey on your presents. So consider cameras tied into the internet, which can keep you from getting ripped off.
“You can actually go online with your smartphone. You can actually see that delivery, know that it's there and have somebody pick it up,” said Jack Shiner of Sebastian Alarm & Security.
Going high tech can get expensive, a step the Burchfiels are not ready to take. They are happy with their basic system, which they call affordable.
“We pay right now $30 a month and we get all of our monitoring and reporting with it. It's great,” said Burchfield.