MIAMI -- An empty box next to a trash bin on the side of the road may not seem tempting, but criminals are looking for them during the holiday season.

Carmen Caldwell with Citizen's Crime Watch said burglars cruise through neighborhoods, scouting out trash bins to see which house has the most valuable stuff. That's the one they break into.

"They've got nothing but time on their hands, so they can parade up and down nice neighborhoods," Caldwell said.

Two years ago, there were 12 break-ins between Thanksgiving and Christmas in Morningside.

"It was very stressful. People were worried. They didn't know what to do," said resident Damian McNamara.

McNamara remembers the crime spree well. He also remembers how quickly the overwhelming problem stopped.

"It went from 12 to two, and this year, so far we haven't heard any reports of any break-ins," he said.

The neighborhood solved the crime spree by starting a Citizen's Crime Watch group. They learned the value of watchful neighbors and dark-colored trash bags.

"Take the time of getting those empty boxes, smashing them up and putting them in a trash bag," Caldwell said.

Doing so can prevent criminals from seeing what you got for the holidays. Also, people should put out the trash on the day it is collected -- not sooner -- so the empty boxes don't give anyone the incentive to break into their homes.