It's something most people do every time they leave the house; make sure their home is secure from a potential burglar. But during the holidays you might want take a little extra precaution.

"We do see an increase in burglaries around the holiday season and that has to do a lot with people needing money," says Dane County Sheriff's Deputy, John Nelson.

And despite what you know about your the area you live in, your home still can easily fall victim. Homeowner Diane Miller has never had a problem with theft in her neighborhood but officers found several ways she could add extra protection.

"It's got the dead bolt which is great but as you can see the glass, it wouldn't take much for someone to have a little hammer and pop the glass here," says Nelson.

There are many simple steps that you can take. The simplest thing is to keep lights on when you're not at home, this way it'll ward off any potential criminals. You can also stop your mail and newspaper from being delivered when you're on vacation. Setting the lights in your home on a timer to give the illusion that someone's home is always a good step to practice as well as closing your blinds at night. And most importantly properly dispose of boxes from xpensive electronics after Christmas. Leaving them by the side of the road for garbage collectors can be an advertisement to a criminal as to what's inside your home.

"Typically burglars are opportunistic people and homeowners if they leave their homes accessible to burglars they are going to take the opportunity to victimize those people."

"It makes me want to be weary that somebody might be passing through that we don't know that's looking to find an opportunity," says Miller.