The holiday season brings plenty of wonderful things to Euclid: festive lights, family gatherings, shopping trips, generous neighbors, and enough packages on porches to make every front step look like a shipping department. Good holiday cheer starts with a little crime prevention.

In the spirit of a familiar holiday song, Euclid Police offer a new seasonal tradition: The Twelve Days of December Crime Prevention. No singing ability required. No partridge necessary. Just twelve simple ways to make your holidays safer and give would-be troublemakers a little less to celebrate.

On the first day of December, my neighborhood reminded me:

One locked door! Whether you’re at home, heading to the store, or visiting family, lock your doors and windows. Even a quick trip to the neighbor’s house counts. “I’ll only be gone a minute” is not a security system.

Two eyes on deliveries! Track your packages and bring them inside as soon as possible. If you can’t be home, ask a trusted neighbor to collect them or arrange delivery to a secure location. Your front porch should be a place for wreaths, not a long-term package storage facility.

Three shopping bags hidden! Keep purchases out of sight in your vehicle. Lock your doors, close your windows, and place shopping bags in the trunk before you reach your next destination. A visible pile of presents can attract attention you never intended to invite.

Four garage doors closed! Bringing in groceries, unloading decorations, or making several trips between the house and the car can leave a garage door open longer than you realize. Close it between trips, and keep tools, bicycles, and other valuables secured. Your garage is not an open-house event.

Five seconds to check! Before leaving your vehicle, take a moment to make sure it is locked, the windows are closed, and the keys are with you. Never leave a running vehicle unattended while it warms up. A chilly car is inconvenient; a missing car is considerably worse.

Six lights a-glowing! If you’re traveling for the holidays, use timers or smart lighting to make your home appear occupied. Ask a trusted neighbor to collect mail and keep an eye on things. A dark house with an overflowing mailbox and packages stacked at the door can send an unintended message.

Seven scams a-flying! Be cautious of unexpected texts about missed deliveries, suspicious payment requests, and urgent messages claiming there’s a problem with an order. Don’t click unfamiliar links. Visit the delivery company’s official website or app to check the status of a package.

Eight charities checked! Holidays inspire generosity, and that’s something worth protecting. Before donating, research the organization and make sure you’re using its legitimate website or payment channel. Be wary of high-pressure appeals, requests for gift cards, or anyone insisting you must donate immediately. A worthy cause won’t require you to abandon common sense.

Nine passwords protected! Holiday shopping and online account activity can create more opportunities for fraud. Use strong, unique passwords, enable multifactor authentication when available, and monitor bank and credit card activity. Never share verification codes with someone who contacts you unexpectedly. Not even someone claiming to be calling from the North Pole’s accounting department.

Ten valuables secured! Gifts, electronics, tools, and other valuables should be kept out of sight from windows and secured when not in use. After the holidays, break down large boxes before putting them out for collection. There’s no need to publish a catalog of your living room’s latest additions.

Eleven neighbors looking! Get to know your neighbors and look out for one another. If you’re away, consider asking someone you trust to keep an eye on your home. If you notice genuinely suspicious activity, report it to police. Neighborhood awareness is about noticing unusual circumstances, not assuming that someone is suspicious simply because they look unfamiliar.

Twelve safe habits practiced! Make a final safety check part of your daily routine. Lock up before bed, secure your vehicles, keep exterior areas well-lit, and be mindful of what you share online about your home and travel plans. Small habits, repeated consistently, can make a meaningful difference throughout the year.

The best holiday gift you can give yourself, your family, and your neighbors is a little extra peace of mind. Crime prevention doesn’t require elaborate equipment or a house full of security gadgets. Often, it starts with ordinary decisions: locking a door, bringing in a package, checking a suspicious message, or looking out for the people who live nearby.