The holidays are the best time of year for burglars in Philadelphia. Empty homes from Thanksgiving through New Year’s. Packages stacking up on front stoops. Neighbors who assume someone else is keeping an eye on things. People posting travel updates to social media. It’s a gift to anyone who does this for a living.

I’ve rekeyed a lot of doors after break-ins. Almost every one could have been prevented. Here’s what actually works — the practical stuff a locksmith actually recommends, not the generic security advice you’ve already seen.

Why Holidays Are High-Risk

Three factors converge at Thanksgiving and Christmas to make Philadelphia homes more vulnerable than at any other time of year:

  • Empty homes. A neighborhood where half the rowhouses are vacant for five days is a different threat environment than the same street fully occupied. Foot traffic changes, routines change, and anything out of the ordinary is harder to detect.
  • Package deliveries. Holiday shipping peaks in November and December. Packages on your stoop are a signal that no one’s home to bring them in — and some of them are worth stealing for their own contents.
  • Social media broadcasts. People post vacation photos in real time. Burglars who target neighborhoods use social media to identify empty properties. “Day 1 of our beach trip!” with your address tagged is not a good combination.

Before You Leave — The Checklist

Go through this before any trip of more than two days:

  • Rekey locks if you’ve had contractor, housesitter, or anyone else with key access in the past year
  • Test every exterior door deadbolt — fully extend the bolt and verify the door can’t be pushed open
  • Check all window latches, especially on the first floor and back of the house
  • Set interior lights on timers — NOT on 24/7 (that signals vacancy)
  • Stop USPS mail delivery online or have someone collect it daily
  • Hold or redirect any scheduled package deliveries
  • Tell a trusted neighbor your travel dates and ask them to watch the property
  • Do NOT post travel dates, location, or “we’re away!” content on social media until you’re back
  • Unplug non-essential electronics (reduces fire risk and power draw)
  • Set your thermostat to at least 55°F in winter — pipes can freeze and burst in vacant homes

Physical Security Upgrades Worth Doing Before the Holidays

If you’ve been meaning to do these, before a multi-day trip is the right time:

Grade 1 Deadbolt

Most rowhouse front doors in Philadelphia still have builder-grade deadbolts — Grade 2 or Grade 3 hardware that provides minimal resistance to forced entry. A Grade 1 deadbolt (Schlage B60N, Kwikset 980, or similar) has a longer bolt throw, heavier case construction, and significantly better resistance to kick-in and picking. Installation runs $85–$150 including hardware.

Strike Plate Reinforcement

This is the single highest-impact security upgrade per dollar spent. Standard strike plates are held by 3/4-inch screws that only penetrate the door jamb, not the stud behind it. One solid kick and the frame splits. Replacing those screws with 3-inch screws that reach the stud, plus adding a reinforced steel strike plate, makes kick-in dramatically harder. Cost: $20–$40 in hardware, or we can do it at your home.

Sliding Door Security

Sliding doors are a known vulnerability on Philadelphia row homes with rear access. A sliding door bar (a piece of cut dowel rod in the track) prevents the door from being opened even if the lock is compromised. For $5 in materials, it’s a no-brainer.

Rowhouse-specific vulnerability notes:
  • Rear access via alley — most break-ins in Philadelphia occur through back or side entries, not the front door
  • Shared alleyways — back gates with worn locks are common weak points in South Philly and Kensington row neighborhoods
  • Basement entry points — hatch doors and low windows are targets when rear access exists
  • Front door mail slots — in older homes, a long tool can sometimes reach interior knobs through a mail slot

Smart Security Tips

Technology has made home security meaningfully better at accessible price points:

  • Video doorbell — A Ring or Nest doorbell captures any front-door activity and lets you respond (or fake being home) from anywhere. Package theft drops dramatically on homes with visible doorbell cameras. Installation is straightforward on most Philadelphia rowhouses — about 1–2 hours.
  • Smart bulbs on timers — Philips Hue or similar smart bulbs can be set to randomized schedules that look more like real occupancy than fixed timers. Some will automatically adjust based on sunset time.
  • Garage alerts and sensors — If you have a detached garage, a simple door sensor linked to an app can alert you if it’s opened while you’re away.
  • Freeze sensors — For longer trips in winter, a $20 sensor that alerts you if your home temperature drops below a set point can prevent a burst pipe disaster.

Neighbor Networks

The most effective home security system in Philadelphia is knowing your neighbors. This isn’t abstract — it’s practical:

  • Tell a nearby neighbor your exact travel dates, not just “we’ll be gone”
  • Give them a contact number for emergencies
  • Ask them to collect any packages that appear
  • Have them vary their approach pattern if they’re checking on the property

A neighbor who knows you’re gone and is watching is more valuable than any smart device. They can distinguish the normal from the abnormal, see things cameras miss, and call you or the police immediately.

Secure Your Home Before You Travel

Rekey, lock upgrades, strike plate reinforcement — we come to you anywhere in Philadelphia.
Call (215) 554-6109

Porch Piracy in Philadelphia

Package theft is a year-round problem in Philadelphia, but it spikes hard in November and December. Some practical countermeasures that actually work:

  • Package holds and redirects — USPS, UPS, FedEx, and Amazon all offer hold-at-location or redirect options. Use them when you’ll be away.
  • Delivery instructions — Request that carriers leave packages inside an unlocked screen door, behind a planter, or at a neighbor’s address.
  • Video doorbell — Visible cameras significantly deter porch pirates. Even a dummy camera provides some deterrence, though a real one actually documents the theft.
  • Amazon Hub Locker or UPS Access Point — Philadelphia has multiple secure pickup locations. Use them for high-value deliveries.
  • Alert your neighbors — A group text or Neighbors app alert when you’re expecting a valuable delivery creates a network of eyes on your stoop.

If You Come Home to a Break-In

Do NOT enter the property if something looks wrong.

If a door is open, a window is broken, or anything looks disturbed — the burglar may still be inside. Call 911 from outside or from a neighbor’s home. Wait for police to clear the building. After police have documented everything, call a locksmith to rekey or replace compromised locks before you sleep there again. Do not touch or move anything before police arrive and give you the go-ahead.

After a break-in, the immediate security priorities are: 1) secure any damaged entry points (board up broken windows, repair door frame), and 2) rekey or replace all exterior locks. The burglars may have made copies of your keys while they were inside. Our residential locksmith team handles post-break-in rekeying throughout Philadelphia — we can be at your door quickly after police clear the scene.