Don't become a December house-breaking statistic

Rising crime and insurance claims highlight the importance of safeguarding assets before the festive season

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FAMILIES HEADING out for festive getaways often return to find their possessions stolen or their homes damaged-a predictable consequence of December crime surges. The holiday season brings more than celebration; it also brings increased exposure to theft, property damage, and financial loss.

Data from 2024, sourced from insurers, including Auto & General and the SA Insurance Crime Bureau, indicates that housebreaking incidents increase by up to 48% in December, with the period between Christmas and New Year posing the greatest risk.

High-value items such as electronics, jewellery, and power tools are increasingly targeted by criminals during this season. Other valuables such as appliances, firearms, luxury goods-and even 'less obvious' items such as cash, bank cards, and alcohol-are also considered to be attractive to criminals.

Statistics South Africa's latest crime survey reveals that over 1.5 million households (5.7% of all households) experienced housebreaking during the 2024/25 period. Disturbingly, only around 43% of those break-ins are reported to the authorities-one of the least-reported crimes to the police-suggesting that the true scale of December risk may be under-acknowledged.