The festive season brings joy, family gatherings, and lots of fun new toys to play with for both adults and kids.

Unfortunately, with the festivities and gift-giving comes the darker side of a spike in criminal activity.

To ensure your holiday season remains merry and safe, former burglars have shared insights into the top five vulnerabilities they target during Christmas.

The sight of empty packaging can be an advertisement of your new valuable possessions inside.

Former offenders advise against leaving boxes outside, suggesting that even packaging from less expensive items can attract burglars.

Look at keeping gifts out of sight, breaking down boxes, or taking them directly to recycling centers.

Helpful items left outside can inadvertently aid burglars.

Former offenders note the potential use of wheelie bins to scale fences or walls.

Keep bins behind locked gates and use weatherproof padlocks to secure outdoor storage if you can.

Preventing access to tools and securing outdoor spaces helps thwart burglary attempts.

Avoid broadcasting your holiday plans on social media.

Ex-burglars reveal using platforms like Facebook and Instagram to identify when homes are unoccupied.

Be mindful of advertising your absence and wait until you return home to share holiday pictures, including being cautious about geotagging that reveals your location.

Exterior lights serve more than festive decoration; they deter burglars by eliminating potential hiding spots.

Former offenders admit lights that illuminate driveways and gardens reduce blind spots.

Security lights, CCTV, and burglar alarms are practical and sometimes inexpensive deterrents during long nights, especially when away from home.

The simplest yet effective measure is to lock doors and windows.

Opportunistic burglars often target homes with unlocked entry points.

It’s important to secure doors and gates with mortice locks, making them tamper-resistant.

Also, be mindful of where you keep keys, especially if your door has a letterbox, as crafty thieves may attempt to retrieve keys from inside doors.

Following these tips from insiders this holiday season to safeguard your home, ensuring a festive celebration without any unwanted surprises.

Stay secure, and may your Christmas be both joyful and safe.