Protecting What Matters This Holiday Season

The Watchman's Wire on How to Secure Your Home Like a Pro Athlete

Nov 27, 2024

If it can happen to Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce, it can happen to you and you can learn from the recent string of burglaries this past month as you prepare for the holiday season with practical yet mission-critical upgrades to your home and personal operational security tactics.

The holiday season is upon us—a time for joy, gatherings, and reflection. Yet, as we prepare to celebrate, it’s also unfortunately an opportune moment criminals love to exploit to strike and as your Watchman, I am here to remind you to be diligently prudent. Recent reports of sophisticated South American burglary rings targeting professional athletes’ homes serve as a stark reminder: security breaches are not just a "celebrity problem." Whether you're a public figure or an everyday person, ensuring your home is well-protected should be a top priority, and social media and cost-efficient AI tools present a rich resource for criminals to run efficient and rewarding attacks.

Video Source: ABCNews

What We Can Learn from the Pros

Professional athletes and celebrities are prime targets for skilled crime syndicates due to their perceived wealth and predictable schedules. But these high-profile cases teach us valuable lessons that everyone can apply:

Awareness is Key:
Burglars often plan their heists meticulously, identifying vulnerabilities in security systems and home layouts. Knowing your own vulnerabilities—whether they’re physical or digital—can make all the difference.
Don’t Let Your Guard Down During the Holidays:
The holiday season presents unique risks. Travel plans, online shopping sprees, and a home filled with gifts can all make you a more attractive target.
Invest in Layered Security:
It’s not just about having a basic alarm system anymore. From video surveillance to reinforced locks and advanced motion sensors, layered security measures make your home a harder target.

Identify Your Vulnerabilities: Physical and Digital

Understanding your vulnerabilities requires taking a close look at both the physical and digital aspects of your life that could be exploited by intruders. Here are some examples and questions to guide your assessment:

Physical Vulnerabilities

Access Points: Are all your doors and windows equipped with secure locks? Sliding glass doors, for instance, are common weak points that burglars exploit. Adding a secondary locking mechanism or security bar can help.
Visibility: Do overgrown shrubs or poor lighting create hiding spots for potential intruders? Trim vegetation near entryways and install motion-activated floodlights around the perimeter of your property.
Package Deliveries: Are unattended packages left on your porch, signaling that no one is home? A smart parcel locker or alternative delivery option can mitigate this.
Spare Key Locations: Seriously, Is your spare key still hidden in an obvious spot like under the mat or in a flower pot? Consider using a smart lock instead of a physical spare key.

Digital Vulnerabilities

Social Media Habits: Are you sharing travel plans, luxury purchases, or other personal details publicly online? This could inform would-be burglars about when your home is vacant.
Smart Home Devices: Are your security cameras, smart locks, or other IoT devices protected by strong, unique passwords and updated software? Weak security on these devices can lead to hacking.
Wi-Fi Network Security: Is your home Wi-Fi network secured with a strong password and WPA3 encryption? An unsecured network can provide easy access to sensitive information.
Email and Text Scams: Are you cautious about opening suspicious links or attachments? Cybercriminals can use phishing attacks to gain access to your security systems or personal accounts.

By examining your lifestyle, habits, and home setup through these lenses, you can identify gaps that may make you a target and take action to fortify those weak spots.

Additional Steps You Can Take Now

Here’s how to proactively protect your home and loved ones:

Inspect, Test, Maintain:
When was the last time you checked your security system? Regular inspections and maintenance ensure your system is functioning when you need it most. If you don’t have a professional-grade system, now’s the time to upgrade.
Upgrade Outdated Technology:
Advances in smart home tech offer affordable, easy-to-use solutions. Consider installing:
- Smart cameras with real-time alerts.
- Doorbell cameras.
- Motion-activated floodlights.
- Remote access locks.
Harden Your Home’s Target Potential:
Criminals look for easy wins. Increasing your home’s target hardening measures—such as installing security film on windows or using a safe for valuables—can deter even the most skilled burglars. Just remember that if you can carry it in, they can carry it out. Don’t waste your time putting your valuables in one of these portable lightweight safes (glorified filing cabinets) in your master closet. If you have one of these sitting in your master bedroom, then make it your decoy safe and fill it up with love notes and sand so that it feels heavy and they will never look for the other “real” one.

Tips For Getting a Good Safe:
The real safe should weigh between 800-1000 lbs and has to be rated for burglary resistance up to 30 minutes. The real methodology that this activity is for is not just preventing theft, but for transferring risk from you to your insurance company if something is stolen so that at a minimum you get money from them if something bad happens.
Audit Your Insurance Coverage:
High-value items like jewelry, art, and luxury watches should be fully documented and insured. The holiday season is a good time to review your policy and ensure it's up-to-date.
Holiday-Specific Tips:
- Avoid posting travel plans on social media until after you return.
- Have a trusted neighbor or friend collect your mail and packages to avoid signaling an empty home.
- Use smart plugs to create a “lived-in” look with automated lighting.

Why This Matters Now

With criminal tactics becoming more sophisticated, vigilance and preparation are more critical than ever. The holidays are meant for celebration, not regret. Taking simple but effective steps now can save you from the emotional and financial burden of a preventable crime.

This holiday season, think beyond wrapping paper and gifts—give yourself the peace of mind that comes with knowing your home and loved ones are protected.

Have a Happy Thanksgiving! ~ The Watchman