It’s that time of year – festive lights are going up on houses, and people are working their way down shopping lists to buy the perfect gifts for their loved ones.
Unfortunately there’s one thing that could put a damper on this holiday spirit, and that’s crime. Whether it’s shorter days causing increased hours of darkness, bored teens out of school and looking for some (misguided) “fun,” or simply opportunistic criminals ready to pounce on all those nice Christmas purchases, December typically sees a crime spike across the country.
On the Naughty List
According to data from the National Crime and National Crime Victimization Surveys, winter months see an increase in crimes against property (as opposed to crimes against people, which are more common in summer months). Robbery and personal larceny, particularly, can increase by up to 20% in December.
Other property-related crimes include:
- Burglary
- Credit card theft and/or fraud
- Identity theft
- Package theft
- Return fraud (this means returning merchandise that was either stolen or not purchased from the same store in an attempt to get money)
- Shoplifting
In today’s technology-based world, cybercrime is on the rise as well. Activities like credit card and identity theft can now fall under this umbrella due to the rise in popularity of online shopping, but cybercrime can also include hacking and phishing attacks on your personal devices as well.
Sadly, another charge that may see a spike during the holidays is Driving Under the Influence, which you probably know as DUI. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s holiday drunk driving statistics record the highest number of drunk driving fatalities around the Fourth of July, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day. In 2018, 285 people were killed in drunk driving accidents in the week between Christmas and New Year’s alone.
Combat Holiday Crime with Defensive Living
While all this talk of crime may make you want to hunker down for the holidays, there are a number of steps you can take to protect yourself, your home, and your family from the bad actors out there.
At Home
This one is probably the easiest. If you’re home for the holidays, there is plenty of opportunity to be vigilant against possible crime.
For starters, make sure you are utilizing all your home’s security features, such as door and window locks, deadbolts, and your security system, especially after dark. Avoid hiding spare keys that could allow someone to bypass those locks on your property, especially in common places, like mailboxes, planters, and doormats. If you need to lend a key to someone, it’s better to give them the key directly.
Both before and after the holidays, it’s a good idea to keep new valuables from being displayed plainly, as this could paint a big target on your house. Haven’t wrapped the kids’ gifts yet? Tuck them discreetly in a closet instead of leaving them out on the dining room table. Got lots of boxes from new toys and electronics? If possible, break them down and pack them into a garbage bag as opposed to dropping them on your curb to sit out for trash or recycling.
While Shopping
Out shopping? You can take defensive steps here too. As our resident Training Director and law enforcement veteran Austin Davis always says, “Crime happens when motive meets opportunity.” So don’t give those criminals those opportunities when you’re out and about trying to knock out all those to-dos.
The most basic thing you can do here is simply be situationally aware while out shopping. See an anomaly in your environment? You don’t need to be hyper-paranoid, but don’t just ignore it either. Being aware of potential threats in the area can give you valuable, life-saving seconds to react if needed.
Additionally, run your errands in groups when possible, and avoid unnecessary risks, such as taking that shortcut through a high-crime neighborhood, or walking alone through a dimly lit area after dark. Just like in your home, don’t leave valuables out in the open in your car either. Tuck them safely in your trunk or under your seats, and you’ll reduce the chance of your car being the target of a break-in or theft.
You may be out to beat the crowds by doing your shopping online, in which case you’ll need to take alternate precautions.
- Pay attention to suspicious emails. If you get a message you’re unsure about, don’t click on any links or reply with any personal information.
- Try to shop with retailers you know and trust to reduce the chances of getting scammed.
- Keep an eye out for signs of credit or identity theft, such as mysterious charges to your bank account. If you are mainly holiday shopping online, consider signing up for a credit monitoring service.
While Traveling
If you’re visiting friends or relatives for the holidays, you obviously won’t be able to monitor your home 24/7 (unless you have a high-tech security system feed that you binge watch like it’s Netflix). Have no fear though, you can prep your home before you leave, and keep it safe with the help of trusted neighbors.
Before heading out of town:
- Put a hold on your mail and newspapers, or ask a neighbor if they don’t mind picking those items up for you so they don’t pile up.
- Leave a light or two on in your house or set your lights on a timer so your house won’t look completely unoccupied while you’re away.
- Park your car in your garage (if you can) or make sure it’s locked with nothing visible on the seats that could tempt an eagle-eyed robber.
While you’re gone, it is also a good idea to have a neighbor check up on your property every now and then just to ensure all is calm and bright.
On the Road
Like with being home, engaging in defensive living tactics while driving to and from holiday gatherings should be easier, since you control many of the factors.
This probably goes without saying, but the first rule here is do not drink and drive. If you are attending a gathering where you are going to have alcohol, have a friend or family member designated as a safe driver, or plan to take a rideshare service to and from the event.
If you are the designated driver, approach the roads with caution, being extra vigilant and aware of other drivers out there. It may be unavoidable, but staying off the roads after the sun goes down is also a safe bet, especially if you live somewhere with factors like ice and snow that can further complicate things.
The holidays are absolutely a time to be merry, but keep in mind that there may be some grinches out there looking to spoil the fun. Luckily, whether you’re at home or across the world celebrating, you can foil bad actors’ plans with some simple defensive living techniques.
Looking for more on home and family defense? We’ve got courses on this and much more available for Concealed Coalition members! In the meantime, we wish you a happy (and safe!) holiday season with the people in your life who matter most!
Sources: ABT Law Firm, Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority, HG.org, National Neighborhood Watch, Tampa Criminal Attorneys
