How to stay jolly and also safe: Kildare garda outlines safety tips ahead of Christmas 2025

A member of An Garda Síochána who is based in County Kildare has outlined a number of safety tips ahead of this year's Christmas celebrations.

The advice was delivered to the general public by Garda William Barry of Newbridge Garda Station when he appeared as a guest on KFM yesterday (November 26 last).

The tips he outlined to the general public included:

• While Christmas shopping, don't leave items unattended, especially if said items are in a car. Keep any valuables hidden and make sure to park in a well-lit area.
• Be wary of online sales, especially if, as Gda Barry put it, the product is "especially under market value"
• Keep the windows of your home secured
• Make sure to set the alarm in your home whenever you leave it
• Don't leave Christmas presents in view of others through windows
• If expecting deliveries, make sure you or someone you trust is there to take them in
• Furthermore, if you are going away, make sure your home looks occupied and / or get someone else to check in  regularly on your property

In addition, Gda Barry said that most burglaries occur between 5pm and 11pm.

READ NEXT: Kildare gardaí probing theft from a motor vehicle incident in Sallins