Don't Get Grinched: Your Smart Security Checklist for the Holiday Season - Prudential Alarm

The good news? You don’t need elaborate booby traps to win the holiday security battle; you need a smart, integrated security system.

1. Stop the Grinch Before They Ring the Doorbell

The front porch is a high-traffic area for both cheerful carolers and opportunistic thieves. Your Video Doorbell is the best defense against package theft.

The Proactive Deterrent: Use your Video Doorbell’s Two-Way Audio to speak directly to anyone lingering on your porch. A simple “Can I help you?" from a disembodied voice is often enough to send a “Porch Pirate" running, making them realize they’re on camera and being monitored.

Package Protection Alerts: Set up specific Activity Zones on your outdoor cameras and doorbell. This ensures you only receive alerts when a package is delivered or when a person stops in the zone after the delivery truck has left.

Smart Secure Delivery: Integrate your Smart Lock with your cameras. For a trusted friend or neighbor collecting a package, you can remotely verify their identity, unlock the door, and then lock it back up instantly, no hidden spare keys required.

2. Fool the Bandits with “Virtual Occupancy"

The golden rule of holiday travel: Make your home look lived-in. Your home automation features are far more convincing than a simple light timer.

Randomized Lighting Schedules: Program your smart lights to turn on and off in different rooms at randomized intervals. This mimics someone moving naturally through the house (kitchen light off, living room light on, upstairs light off), signaling that the family is still home and awake.

The Sound Illusion: Plug a radio or a smart speaker into a Smart Plug. Schedule it to turn on for a few hours in the morning and a few hours in the evening, tuning it to a talk radio station. The combination of sound and light is incredibly convincing.

Secure Access for Visitors: Use temporary, unique codes for your Smart Lock to grant access to a house sitter or a trusted relative. This eliminates the risk of lost physical keys and allows you to track exactly when they entered and left via the mobile app.

3. The Frozen Pipe Threat: Protecting Against Winter Damage

When you leave for a winter trip, the biggest threat to your property isn’t a thief, it’s a burst pipe or furnace failure. In cold regions like Michigan and Ohio, this can quickly lead to catastrophic flooding.

Frozen Pipe Alerts: Use integrated Low-Temperature Sensors and Smart Thermostats. If the furnace fails or the temperature drops below a safe threshold (e.g., 55°F), your system sends an immediate alert to you and our monitoring center, allowing you to dispatch help before pipes freeze and burst, causing thousands in water damage.

Environmental Monitoring: Place Water Leak Sensors near appliances (water heater, washing machine) or in the basement. This guards against leaks or sump pump failure during thaw cycles, saving you the shock of returning to a flooded home.

Battery Health is Crucial: Before any extended trip, conduct a system health check via your mobile app. Ensure that all low-battery alerts are addressed and replaced. A dead battery in a temperature sensor during a power outage in December is the single fastest way to lose protection against a burst pipe.

4. Final Rule: The Digital Discipline of a Secret Agent

In the age of social media, announcing your absence is the biggest security blunder of all. Channel your inner secret agent and maintain absolute digital discipline while on your mission (vacation).

Don’t Announce Your Absence (The “Home Alone" Mistake): Never post travel dates, departure photos, or geotag your location in real-time. This broadcasts your house is empty. Wait until you get home to post that amazing beach picture—the memories will be just as good!

Check External Clues: An unkempt property is another clue that the house is empty. Ask a neighbor to shovel your walk or rake leaves if you’re gone for an extended period.

Secure Access for Contacts: Use your smart system to check locks and grant remote access only to trusted, pre-approved contacts, ensuring you maintain a secure log of who entered your home and when.

By combining common-sense vigilance with the power of a fully integrated home security and automation system, you can truly leave your worries behind. Enjoy your trip, knowing your home is not just protected, it’s fooling the thieves.

Ready to set up your ultimate vacation defense? Contact Prudential Alarm today.

Visit prudentialalarms.com/contact-us or call us at (800) 252-0368.