Identity Theft and Burglary a Growing Problem

Identity theft is a growing problem in the world today. Statistics show that over 15 million people in the US alone are the victims of identity theft each year. With this, burglaries seem to be on the rise in an alarming manner. This is why it is important to know a few ways that you can keep your family safe from these dangers.

Use Technology to Your Advantage

The first thing to keep in mind with technology is that you should never give out any personal information on a website or through email without having first started communication. Also, even if the site you are using to give your information through is valid be sure it is a secure website so you are not compromising yourself.

You should also make sure you have an active firewall. With this, keeping antivirus and spyware protection up to date is important. It is a good idea to set them to update and scan regularly so that you are fully protected. Keep your privacy settings high on social media sites. This will help keep your identity from being stolen this way.

Around the Home

There are many things you can do around the home to keep from being a victim of theft or burglary. Some of the things to keep in mind include:

Use a cross cutting paper shredder to ensure that your personal information is not anything that you throw away.
Keep bushes trimmed so that burglars cannot hide in them.
Engrave your drivers license number into your valuables. This will make it harder for thieves to dispose of them and easier for police to locate them.
Install motion sensor lights around your house. This will usually keep a burglar from breaking in but will also alert you to an issue.
Review which home security system in your area has the best track record.
Make sure you do not have valuables that can be easily seen from the windows.
Put away lawn equipment and valuable outdoor toys to keep burglars from stealing them.
An alarm system is ideal if you want to have peace of mind.
Joining the neighborhood watch can help to keep your neighborhood a little safer.

When Travelling

One of the best things you can do when you travel is to set the lights in your home on a timer as this will make it look like someone is still home. It is also good to have a neighbor park in your driveway occasionally. Also, stop your mail and newspaper delivery as this is one of the first things burglars will look for.

While many people just think about their home while on vacation, it is also important to think about avoiding identity theft while on vacation. First, you should only use secure ATMs. There are fake ATMs in high tourist areas that can cause serious issues for you. With this, credit cards should be used over debit cards as they have stricter legislation. In fact, it is recommended that you only bring traveler's checks, cash and credit cards with you on vacation.

It is also a good idea to utilize the room safe in your hotel. This will help to keep your valuables safe while you are out. Even if you are at a good hotel, you want to make sure you fully protect yourself.