Never show would-be burglars what you received as Christmas gifts

This photo shows a St. Bernard resident doing exactly what shouldn’t be done after Christmas: leaving empty boxes at the curb as trash and showing burglars what is new in your home, Sheriff James Pohlmann said.

“Please don’t advertise what you received for Christmas,” Sheriff Pohlmann said. “That’s what you do if you leave empty boxes outside at the curb as trash.”

Instead, the sheriff said, take the time to tear up boxes and put them in a trash bag, then stuff them in your curbside mini-dumpster so no one sees what is new in your home, Sheriff Pohlman said.

“It is a small thing you can do to lessen the chance of being burglarized,” the sheriff said.