The holidays are all about family, love and warmth - or at least they should be. But now and then, some callous miser will ruin everyone's parade by helping themselves to holiday decorations. While these villains will eventually earn themselves a pair of stockings filled with coal, this guide will help you prevent those greedy fools from stealing your holiday decorations in the first place.

Keep in mind that none of the following tips are foolproof, but they should slow down potential thieves. Thieves like simple targets can quickly slide around, such as plastic crutch candy, plug-in inflatables, etc., so anything that gets in the way of a heist may help keep your holiday decorations safe. Best of all, most of these strategies for thwarting robbers are free.

10 Ways to Keep Thieves from Stealing Your Holiday Yard Decorations

1. Use heavy decorations

One of the keys to planting holiday decorations safely in your yard is to invest in heavy decorations. The heavier and larger the item, the harder it is for thieves to catch it as they pass by, and the harder it is to stuff it into the trunk of a small car. While it may be impractical to purchase a new series of heavier decorations, think about the weight when replacing items.

2. Secure with landscaping nails

Brightly lit decorations and strings of holiday lights tend to catch the eye of holiday troublemakers. But you can stop their attempts to leave with Rudolph by securing him with landscaping staples. Placing a few staples in the wire and then nailing them into the ground may create enough resistance to deter a thief who tries to grab a quick handful. Use staples that are at least 6 inches long, such as these galvanized landscaping staples from Amazon.

3. Keep motion lights functional

Some people remove the bulbs from outdoor fixtures when installing holiday light strings, but it's a good idea to keep motion-sensitive lights functional. If people enter the yard looking for flashing Stars of David or cane candy, these sensors may detect them and activate them, flooding the area with light and unmasking them. Motion-sensing lights could even help prevent package theft if a homeowner forgets to take a package off the porch.

4. Use zip ties or tape

Those who would rather have trees, shrubs and handrails shining under their lanterns than lose their lights to Christmas thieves should consider using zipper ties or duct tape. Use these items to secure harnesses to handrails and tree trunks or branches, and use them liberally! No thief would spend 30 minutes unzipping a string of holiday lights at night to steal them.

5. rebar anchors

Tired of inflatables floating away, either at the hands of thieves or in Jack Frost's gusts of wind? Consider securing them in place with rebar. Use a band saw, reciprocating saw or hacksaw to cut several 2-foot lengths of rebar and drive them into the ground after decorating. (Be sure to wrap the ends with tape to prevent holes.) Then, tie the blower to the rebar with steel cable, rope, chain or even zip ties. You'll have to get creative with the ties, but this method will deter thieves as they drag your inflatable gingerbread man in an attempt to break in.

6. Link items to trees

If you have trees in your yard, consider using them as anchor points. Install light chains around the tree and then attach the chains to the decorations. This may require drilling a hole in the ornament, installing a hitch, or making any other modifications. However, if properly anchored, the Blitzen will certainly slip out from under the thief's arm when the chain is pulled tight.

7. Keep decorations off the street

Consider rearranging your holiday scene to bring the decorations closer to the house this year. Decorations that are too close to the street are more likely to be stolen, which is a huge holiday mistake. Instead, place them on the opposite side of the house or where they can be easily seen from a window. If you keep your decorations a safe distance from the street, thieves won't be uncomfortable with Christmas prickly shamrocks, and Frosty may stay for another year.

8. Turn them off all night

It may seem counterintuitive to turn off the holiday lights at bedtime, but does anyone appreciate those twinkling lights when they're asleep, with visions of sugar plums dancing in their heads? Turning off the lights all night, or even moving some items into the garage may deter some thieves from even noticing that the house has been decorated. Make it easier on yourself by placing holiday lights and other glowing decorations on a timer or outdoor smart plug so they will turn off late at night and turn on the next night.

9. Use your camera and security system

Make sure your cameras and security system signs are on full display. Thieves who see your surveillance setup may be less likely to do full-scale damage to your seasonal decor. While security cameras may not stop a swipe, a potential landscape thief will know they are likely to be caught and may therefore choose to continue to a neighbor's Arctic display.

10. Ask local police to increase patrols

It never hurts to call your local police department and ask for additional patrols on your street. Thieves stealing holiday displays will likely notice the increased police presence and will think twice about party poop theft in your neighborhood. Be sure to wave to local officials to show them your appreciation and support.