Christmas morning is filled with lots of cheer; everyone’s enjoying time with their loved ones, and of course, opening up presents. What happens after Christmas is what gets people in trouble.
L’Jean Mckneely, a spokesman for the Baton Rouge Police Department, says after the holidays people put their boxes and other gift related trash outside. He says by doing this it attracts thieves.
“Burglary is a crime of opportunity so if they have an opportunity [they’ll] take a chance to go inside of your home,” Mckneely said. “Electronics are easily removable, [burglars] can get in and carry those items out [of your home].”
Mckneely says the best thing to do is to hide any brand-named boxes.
“Big TV’s, refrigerators, as people are passing by they have more of an opportunity to see what type of items you might possibly have inside of your home,” he said. “Break down the boxes and put them in trash bags. If it’s a trash day, take the boxes out there right before the [garbage] truck comes to haul those items off.”
Mcnkeely says the method of breaking down gift boxes can be used year-round to prevent theft.
