Don't tip off burglars that your home is full of new Christmas goodies

CLEARWATER, Fla. - Clearwater police have set up a unique program to help keep burglars away from your home during the Christmas holidays. It’s called Operation Safe Disposal.

The city is opening eight drop-off locations where people can bring boxes from unwrapped gifts like a flat screen TV, computer or other major purchase.

"It's like window shopping for a thief. When he or she sees a bunch of boxes at the curb, all they have to do is decide which home has the items they would like. So what you thought was a simple act of taking out the trash actually increases your risk of becoming a burglary victim," said Clearwater Deputy Chief Sandra Wilson.

Here’s a list of the drop off locations that will be open between December 24  and January 2:


Clearwater Police Headquarters
645 Pierce Street

Countryside Fire Station 50
2681 Countryside Boulevard

Clearwater Beach Recreation Center
(Out front at the recycling drop off center)
69 Bay Esplanade Boulevard

Clearwater Solid Waste/General Services
1701 N. Hercules Avenue

Morningside Pool
2400 Harn Boulevard

Clearwater Fire Station 49
565 Sky Harbor Drive

Ross Norton Recreation Center
1426 S. Martin Luther King Jr. Ave.  

North MLK Police Sub-station
1310 N. Martin Luther King Jr. Ave.