BY JULIE YOUNG

According to the FBI, December is the worst month for property crime in the U.S. Empty abodes, piled packages, and accumulated mail make homes attractive targets for porch pirates and burglars during the holiday season. Want to keep your house from becoming a statistic? There are things you can do to protect yourself:

Don’t post
Do not announce your holiday travel plans over social media or tag your location when you are away from home. Criminals scour these sites looking for easy targets and will take advantage of your absence. 

Don’t allow packages to pile up
Porch pirates love trolling through a neighborhood and helping themselves to recently delivered packages. Have your packages sent to a local pickup hub, or have a trusted neighbor collect them for you. 

Say ‘cheese’
Burglars are less likely to target a home that has visible cameras and other security measures that make it easier for authorities to identify them. 

Light it up
Use smart timers to turn on lights in the evening to give the illusion that someone is home. A dark home with no lights signals to criminals that your home is unoccupied. 

Enlist help
Ask a trusted neighbor to keep an eye on your property while you’re away. Ask them to collect your mail in your absence, or have the post office place a temporary hold on delivery. 

Clear a path
Arrange for your driveway and sidewalks to be shoveled, or for all regular landscape maintenance to continue while you are gone. The goal is to look like you’re still home. 

Lock it down
This may seem like a no-brainer, but lock all windows and doors and remove spare keys. In the excitement to leave, this tip is often overlooked. Remember, Santa comes down the chimney. Criminals look for easy entry points.