You should be careful about showing off those big-ticket holiday gifts on the days following Christmas…because they could draw in thieves.

That’s the advice from Knoxville Police Chief Dan Losada, who says it’s not uncommon for burglars to drive around on the days following Christmas looking for signs of brand-new items they can steal.

He tells KNIA/KRLS News as proud as you might be of your new gifts, you should keep them out of public view for the first few days after Christmas.

“If we’ve got that big TV, that 80-inch TV sitting there right in your front window, it does show to be a temptation sometimes,” Losada says. “So make sure you put things for a while out of sight, because this is the time of year people are driving around looking for things.”

Another tip-off to thieves is your trash; if they see an empty box for a computer, video game console or other high-end device, they’ll know there’s a brand-new item inside ready for the taking.

Chief Losada suggests you break down the boxes these items came in, fold them so only the bare cardboard shows and stuff them deep down in your trash. He says taking the discarded packaging in for recycling is an even better option.