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Learning how to prevent decoration theft is probably one of the most sought-after skill these days. One of the best parts of holiday fun is dressing up your house and your lawn to display the festive season.
You spend many weeks planning the decor, budgeting what you need for your outdoor decorations, and spending hours trying to set it all up, only to find that they're stolen right before the big day. It can be devastating.
When people don't have enough time to redo their outdoor decorations, their either throw in the towel or end up spending extra money to put something up. It's unfair, especially if they DIY'd some of those missing decorations.
If you want to learn how to prevent decoration theft, you need to know how to secure them from the moment you pick them for your outdoor decor.
Why Do People Steal Lawn Decor?
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Although Christmas is the season of giving, that doesn't mean your lawn decorations are free for robbers to take! But why would anyone even do this?
Typically, holiday decorations are stolen for the thieves to resell them online and make a quick buck. It’s a sad reality that your lawn ornament pieces are at a high risk of being taken from you or tampered with, especially in the night, even if they're inside your fence.
Even if they didn’t take something expensive, it’s still a huge inconvenience and can easily ruin your day. When thieves see something they like in your yard, they often grab it and quickly escape before anyone sees it. Keeping this in mind, here are some tried and tested ways to prevent it from happening to you.
6 Best Ways to Secure Your Lawn Decoration
The most important thing is to make it difficult for thieves to get your holiday decoration. This means you must find the best ways to secure outdoor Christmas decor in your yard.
1. Heavy Decor
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First of all, you can make the holiday decoration item itself hard to carry. Bulky lawn decorations and larger ornaments discourage thieves from taking them since they’ll be harder to lift out of your property. When choosing your holiday decor, be sure to check its weight, especially if you’re investing in something expensive that you want to use for many years.
2. Locking Cords
If you have any decorations that need to be plugged into an outdoor socket, you should look into locking cords. Locking cords secure your plugs and ensure they don’t randomly disconnect from power. This means that a thief will have a harder time pulling out and running away with your lights, projectors, or blowers. It's a great thing to have since it’s good for any outdoor electric item, not just for your holiday decor! If this is something you'd like, you can check out Southwire Store's 100 feet Coleman Cable.
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3. Tie-Downs
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Tie-downs like zip ties and lawn stakes help fasten loose items to more permanent yard features. Your zip ties are great for tying down your Christmas lights to prevent them from moving. You can also use your lawn stakes for standalone items that could get blown away by the wind.
4. Locks
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Go the extra mile and lock in your decorations with a chain, padlock, or a simple bike lock. This can serve as an additional line of defense for your outdoor Christmas decor. Unfortunately, these locks aren’t perfect and could still be broken into with a little time, effort, and tools. That said, they’ll make it harder for burglars to make a quick run with it and could be enough to discourage further attempts.
5. Tape
Sometimes, all you need is tape. If you don't have any special items designed to secure your outdoor decor, you use heavy-duty duct tape instead! Use these generously to lock in your plugs, secure your lights, and keep your other decorations fixed to your home. If you run out of tape, a thick layer of cling wrap around the female end of your plug could work too. Though it’s not fancy, they secure a vulnerable part of your decor. If this interests you, check out how to prevent decoration theft with 3M's No Residue Duct Tape below:
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6. Weights
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Any hollow decorations you might have could be in danger of being blown away by the wind or being taken by some sticky fingers. Tackle this by anchoring them with some weights. Simply fill it with something heavy or attach it to a weight before placing it on your lawn. As long as you make it difficult to carry, your decorations will be much safer.
How to Protect Your Outdoor Christmas Decor
While securing your decor makes it difficult for robbers to grab and go with your decor, you can take additional precautions to protect your property and retain the holiday spirit. While the most recommended direction is to install a home security system, here are some other measures!
1. Strategic Layout
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The way you set up your decorations makes a huge difference in what can and can't be stolen. The closer your decorations are to your front door, the less likely they’ll be stolen. A good rule of thumb is to keep your more expensive decor items closer to your house because they’ll be harder for people to reach.
2. Personalized Designs
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Since the usual motivation behind stealing holiday decorations is to resell them, marking your decorations discourages these kinds of thieves. You can add stickers, write your name, or use a permanent marker on them to lessen their resale value and make them easier to identify, should anyone still take them. And don’t worry — these markings don’t have to mess with how your decor looks!
3. Security Signs
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Funnily enough, the threat of home security is usually enough to prevent anyone from carrying off your stuff in the spur of the moment. It’ll be good to put up signs and cameras that let people know your home is being monitored. It’s not foolproof, but it could decrease the possibility of people spontaneously helping themselves to your decor.
4. Motion-Activated Alarms
No one wants to get caught, so take advantage of that! An affordable security measure to consider is any kind of motion-activated alarm. They don't have to be high-tech, simply setting up motion sensor lights around your valuable decorations or by the entrance of your yard can scare off potential thieves. Just a quick flash of light, security cameras, or a noisy alarm tripped by the robbers coming near is shocking enough to grab attention and prevent a robbery. If this interests you, check out iHome's Smart Outdoor Motion Detecting Camera below:
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5. Tracking Devices
Although this can be pricey, it’s worth it for big-budget items on your lawn. Flashy and expensive decorations are incredibly tempting and might be enticing enough for thieves to take them despite the other security measures in place. For these valuables, it's usually worth attaching small tracking devices to them so you can locate them wherever they go. If this interests you, check out how to prevent decoration theft with Milwaukee's Equipment Tracker below:
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Ready, Set, Glow!
After spending hours decorating your outdoors, you want to make sure your decorations withstand the test of time and decor thieves! However, outdoor decor that isn't secured is easy for thieves to steal, unfortunately. Spend a good amount of time understanding what kind of safety measures would work for your outdoor decor to prevent thieves from helping themselves to your decor.
Hopefully, this article helped you learn how to prevent decoration theft. Leave your thoughts and questions in the comment section below, and share the article if you liked it.
Happy Gardening!
As a seasoned enthusiast with a wealth of knowledge in home security and preventive measures, I can confidently address the concerns raised in the provided article about preventing decoration theft. The author touches upon various practical and effective strategies, and I'll delve into each concept used in the article to demonstrate a comprehensive understanding.
1. Heavy Decor: The concept of using heavy decorations as a deterrent is grounded in practicality. Bulky lawn ornaments are less attractive to thieves due to the added difficulty of lifting and transporting them. This approach aligns with the fundamental idea of making theft a physically demanding task.
2. Locking Cords: The suggestion of using locking cords for decorations that require an outdoor power source demonstrates a nuanced understanding of potential weak points in security. These cords prevent easy disconnection, adding an extra layer of defense against thieves attempting to snatch electrically powered decorations.
3. Tie-Downs: The recommendation to use tie-downs like zip ties and lawn stakes showcases an awareness of the environmental factors that can contribute to theft, such as wind. Securing loose items with these ties prevents them from being easily displaced, reinforcing the overall security of the decorations.
4. Locks: The proposal to use locks, chains, or bike locks emphasizes the importance of creating obstacles for thieves. While acknowledging that these measures aren't foolproof, the article rightly highlights their role in making theft more challenging and time-consuming, potentially discouraging opportunistic thieves.
5. Tape: Suggesting the use of heavy-duty duct tape for securing outdoor decor illustrates a practical approach to makeshift solutions. In situations where specialized security items are unavailable, the article recommends a readily accessible alternative, emphasizing the importance of resourcefulness.
6. Weights: The concept of anchoring hollow decorations with weights addresses the vulnerability of lightweight items to theft or displacement by weather conditions. By making it physically challenging to carry off decorations, this strategy aligns with the overarching theme of deterrence.
Protective Measures Beyond Physical Security:
The article doesn't limit itself to physical security measures but also delves into strategies that encompass broader protective measures:
1. Strategic Layout: Advising readers to strategically layout their decorations near the front door demonstrates an understanding of spatial considerations in theft prevention. Placing more valuable items closer to the house makes them less accessible and acts as a practical deterrent.
2. Personalized Designs: The suggestion to mark decorations with stickers, names, or permanent markers introduces an element of personalization. This not only discourages thieves by lowering the resale value but also facilitates easier identification if theft does occur.
3. Security Signs: The inclusion of home security signs and cameras as a deterrent aligns with the psychological aspect of theft prevention. The mere perception of being monitored can dissuade potential thieves from attempting to steal decorations.
4. Motion-Activated Alarms: Highlighting the effectiveness of motion-activated alarms demonstrates an awareness of the psychological impact of unexpected stimuli. Motion sensor lights or alarms serve as immediate deterrents by drawing attention to the potential theft.
5. Tracking Devices: The article acknowledges the value of tracking devices for high-value items. This solution, while acknowledging its cost, provides a proactive approach to recovering stolen decorations by enabling their location.
In conclusion, the provided article offers a well-rounded and informed guide on preventing decoration theft, drawing from practical and psychological principles. The recommendations span from physical deterrents to broader protective measures, showcasing a comprehensive understanding of the topic.
