While you're busy having fun with family and friends this holiday season, remember that criminals love the holiday season as much as everyone else—especially, says the National Crime Prevention Council, because there are more people shopping and traveling at this time of year. To make sure your holidays are happy and crime-free, keep in mind these common-sense tips for securing your home:

• Make your home look as lived-in as possible while you're gone.
  
• Lock your doors and windows while out shopping or visiting friends and family. Close to 60% of all burglaries show no sign of forced entry. Avoid the temptation to leave a house key hidden in an obvious place outside your home.
  
• Use automatic timers to turn on a radio and lights at different intervals to hide the fact that you are not at home.
  
• Take a home inventory by taking photographs and make a list with serial numbers so that if you should be burglarized, recovered items can be identified and insurance claims are easier to file.
  
• Stop your mail, newspaper and all other regular deliveries if you plan to be away longer than a day or two.
  
• Ask a neighbor to keep an eye on your home while you are away and be sure to leave an emergency phone number.
  
• Arrange to have your yard maintained if necessary.
  
• If you're out for the evening, turn on lights and a radio or television so it looks like someone is home.

By investing a little time and effort into securing your home, you can rest easy while you're away--and return to find your home sweet home just the way you left it.