BBB Offers Tips for Getting Rid of Holiday Boxes Safely

With the holidays coming to a close and all of the gifts unwrapped, the boxes remain and in some cases, those boxes are sitting out by the curb.

The Better Business Bureau said those boxes out by the curb can act as an advertisement for those who might be looking to a rob a house.

The BBB said that according to Safewise, electronics are both one of the most-gifted items during the holidays year after year and the most commonly stolen from homes.

According to the Better Business Bureau, there a number of tips people should keep in mind to protect themselves.

First, keep the box inside instead of by the street until it is recycling day or the day to get rid of them.

Second, people can cut up shipping documents and boxes to prevent robbers from stealing anyone’s identity or finding out which laptop model someone received.

Meanwhile, the Better Business Bureau also advised people to record and save the serial number on the box or the item and keep it in a safe location, making it easier to identify and track if it stolen or does go missing.

Finally, BBB officials reminded people to wipe old electronics clean before recycling them by removing all personal information and/or removing the SIM card or hard drive from the electronic device.