The Orange County Sheriff's Office has brought back its so-called "burglar box" program by popular demand to keep the first garbage collection after Christmas from turning into a window shopping spree for criminals.

After you open all your gifts, simply putting all those empty boxes by the curb outside your own home can tip off thieves on what hot new toy Santa brought.

As a safer alternative, folks in Orange County can use one of several public dumpsters set up around the county to dispose of your empty gift boxes, especially for those big-ticket items like TVs and computers.

"This time of year, while you're out shopping, the bad guys are doing some shopping, too," said Capt. Jeff Stonebreaker, with the Orange County Sheriff's Office. "When they drive through these neighborhoods and see the box of that really nice, big electronic item you put out, that helps cue them up on a place that's a good opportunity."

Here are the nine "burglar box" locations the Sheriff's Office has set up in and around Orlando:

  • Winn Dixie — 5732 N. Hiawassee Road, Orlando
  • Forest Edge Shopping Center — 5701 Edgewater Drive, Orlando
  • Waterford Shopping Center — 413 N. Alafaya Trail, Orlando (behind Subway)
  • OCSO Sector 2 Substation — 11000 Lake Underhill Road, Orlando
  • Orlo Vista Park — 1 N. Powers Drive, Orlando
  • Soiree Event Center — 6394 Silver Star Road, Orlando
  • Dr. Phillips YMCA — 7000 Dr. Phillips Blvd., Orlando
  • Goodwill — 7915 S. Orange Blossom Trail, Orlando
  • Costco — 2101 Waterbridge Blvd., Orlando