Tips to protect your property from thieves over the holidays

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. - If you're traveling over the holidays, don't make your home a target for burglars and porch pirates.

"You don't want your curb to be a billboard for what's inside your house," said Cris Swaters with the Springfield Police Department.

SPD says there are a few different things you can do to keep yourself, and your property, safe from thieves.

"Any time you know you're going to have something delivered, if you can't be home, see if you have a trusted neighbor who can grab that off your porch and either stick it in your garage and your front door, even just hold on to it for you until you get home," Swaters said.

Jamie Tatum is the Grant Beach neighborhood president.

"I have some really great neighbors that will keep an eye out on things if I do have to get some things into the house then I'll just be sure to let them know, 'Hey, can you stop by and grab this for me?'" Tatum said.

She says the sense of community in her neighborhood is strong.

"A lot of people are looking out for each other in many ways throughout the holidays and other times of the year," Tatum said. "So it's really nice."

Jean and Tom DeGeere live in north Springfield.

"They kind of watch each other's coming and going, and that gets into the situation during the holidays," Tom DeGeere said. "People going someplace or vacationing. We pretty much have our eyes on each other."

They say they are thankful to have neighbors that make them feel safe.

"A sense of being part of something, a sense of knowing that you've got other people that'll cover your back," Jean DeGeere said.

SPD says you also don't want to advertise that your house is empty.

"Don't post that you're going to be out of town on social media," Swaters said. "Save all of those great holiday photos that you take while you're out of town. Save those until you get back."

Package theft is a felony in the state of Missouri.

If you have something stolen off of your porch you can call the police or go online to make a report.