What you do with the box your new holiday toys came in may determine how long you have to enjoy them. Tracey Breeden of the Glendale police says putting the box from your new flat-screen TV or iPad in the curbside trash is just like advertising there’s a hot new item inside the house.

 “Everybody in your neighborhood, including thieves who pass by, all know what you got for Christmas and they know those items are inside your home,” Breeden said. “So it does attract thieves, and you don’t want that.”

Breeden suggests cutting the boxes up and putting them in the recycle bin, or meeting the collection trucks on pick-up day to ensure no one else can spot them.