Putting Boxes Outside Can Be an Invitation for Holiday Theft

(Fairfax) -- When new big screen TV owners or new computer owners put boxes outside, it may be an advertisement for holiday thieves.

Most of us just take the boxes out of the house and leave them for trash pickup day. But while those boxes are on the street, they're telling potential crooks what's inside your home.

Fairfax County Police Sergeant Jeffrey Gossett says with this being such a happy time of the year, few people think about crime. But the criminals do.

So rather than leave the computer box in plain view, police suggest you break down the boxes, put them in garbage bags, then put the bags inside trash cans.

THE 10 MOST IMPORTANT WORDS OF THE ARTICLE
> theft = The act of taking something from someone unlawfully
> owner = possessor, proprietor
> advertisement = A public promotion of some product or service
> thief = A criminal who takes property belonging to someone else with the intention of keeping it or selling it
> trash pickup = The collection and removal of garbage.
> crook = Someone who has committed (or been legally convicted of) a crime
> to leave, left, left = Go and leave behind, either intentionally or by neglect or forgetfulness
> in plain view = everybody can see it
> garbage bags = the bags you put into trash cans
> trash can = A bin that holds rubbish until it is collected