The holiday season is a busy time of year. In addition to normal work schedules and daily routines, holiday planning, decorating, shopping and travel can easily distract you -- and thieves are quick to take advantage.

According to the Travelers Idemnity Company, theft spikes during the holiday season in these key areas: identity fraud and home or car burglaries.

Here's how to make sure you don't become a victim this holiday season.

Avoid Identity Theft

According to a Javelin Strategy study cited by Travelers, more than 13 million U.S. identities were exposed in 2013.

To avoid becoming a victim of identity theft, review your credit report now and after the New Year. Monitor your mail and credit card statements. Carry only the credit cards you need, and safeguard your purse and wallet while shopping or traveling this holiday season.

Protect Your Home and Car from Burglary

Items stolen from parked cars increases by approximately 20 percent on Black Friday. Thieves walk through parking lots and look inside vehicle windows searching for items to steal.

Keep gifts and personal belongings out of sight. Lock belongings in your trunk, glove box, console or hide them under the seat. Park in well-lit areas. Lock your car doors. Keep your car windows rolled up.

Many consumers buy online and have holiday packages delivered to their home. It's convenient, but thieves target packages left on doorsteps.

Have delivered packages dropped off at a safe location or at a specific time, if possible, or opt to pick up the packages yourself from the nearest facility.

Holiday Shopping Online Safety Tips

The National Crime Prevention Council recommends that consumers secure their personal computers by updating the security software. It's important to have updated, secure anti-virus and anti-spyware software before holiday shopping online.

Unless you initiated the contact, do not respond to requests to "verify" your password or credit card information. Keep your debit or credit card and banking information private, as well as your personal information and your password.

Purchase from secure websites only. You can tell if a website is secure by looking for "https" at the beginning of the URL address or the image of a locked padlock at the bottom of the screen.

Finally, it's always best to shop on the Internet with known companies that you trust.

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