We wrongly think that burglars work the most hours in the summer… but no! Almost every year, the highest number of reports is recorded in December. Blame it on the excitement of the end-of-year celebrations, the school holidays and the gifts under the tree… Moreover, whether you are away or at home, certain days and certain times of the month are particularly “at risk”. “. We interviewed Yann Rigot, Director of Innovation at Verisure, to find out the reasons for the December “spike” and the best practices to adopt to avoid being a victim of theft.
Burglaries: December, high season for thieves? Why burglaries increase as the holidays approach
In December 2023, no less than 22,452 burglaries were recorded in France, according to the statistical service of the Ministry of Internal Security (SSMSI). “Compared to other months of the year, there is an increase in risk of 37%and it is mainly concentrated on the end of the month”, explains Yann Rigot. And the explanation comes down to three main factors, according to him. “First, it is a vacation period for many, increasing the chances that no one will be home. Afterwards, night falls earlier, people are outside less, so there is less risk of being caught by burglars… Finally, Christmas is synonymous with gifts and valuable objects under the tree, which some criminals unfortunately try to recover between Santa Claus and children.”
At Verisure, during the period, remote home monitoring recorded a record number of triggersnotably… On the evening of the two New Years Eves, December 24 and 31. Enough to spoil the party… Especially since the risk of burglary is not limited – or no longer – to periods of absence of the occupants. “You must always make sure to put a turn of the key in the lock when we are at homeadvises Yann Rigot. There are a lot of burglaries that take place when people are there, in the evening during dinner for example, we are entertaining and there is noise, and we do not necessarily hear the intruder who is going discreetly search the piece of furniture in the entrance on which valuables are generally placed : the next day, we can wake up without the car in front of the house…”.
Burglaries: the days and times when the most reports are recorded in December
Do burglars prefer to operate during the day or at night? It all depends, first of all, on “type” of malice which they demonstrate. According to Yann Rigot, there are two categories of burglaries: flights of opportunity, unforeseen“the thief passes by and realizes that everyone is leaving, for example”, and those who are more methodical and prepared, which is often the case during the holidays. “There is scouting in advance, they wonder which house might be of interest, so it all depends too information that you will leave at their disposal”warns the expert.
According to Verisure's observations, generally speaking, burglaries tend to be concentrated in the evening, or even at night, between 9 p.m. and 6 a.m. But in Decemberthis occurs earlier, because it's dark at the end of the afternoon. “We observe a small peak on the edge 17h-21h in December”, specifies Yann Rigot. As for the most affected days, during the last month of the year, they correspond to the two New Year's Eves, that of Christmas December 24and that of the New Year the 31st. “These two dates are marked red on our remote surveillance side,” he adds.
Burglary: how to protect yourself from the risk in December?
Fortunately, there are several solutions to protect yourself from burglaries, and the first and most important thing is prevention! Yann Rigot insists on the importance of simple but effective actions: “You must avoid letting mail pile up in the mailbox, a clear sign of prolonged absence. Before leaving, check that all doors and windows are closed correctly. And don't let valuables on displayoutdoors, or tools that could facilitate intrusion like a scabot…” Another factor often neglected: the use of social networks. “You should be careful not to publish information in real time about your vacation. These details leave clues to burglars, whether they are looking for material goods or want to take advantage of the owners' absence,” emphasizes Yann Rigot.
On the side of technological measuresthe installation of a alarm system remains one of the most effective weapons to deter intruders. Devices such as shock detectors on doors and windows or surveillance cameras make it possible to detect any intrusion attempt even before it succeeds. “With technologies like our latest connected lockburglars can also be repelled before they enter, thanks to an alert system which warns in the event of a lock-picking attempt”, states Yann Rigot. Finally, in the Verisure remote surveillance system, “the lethal weapon intervenes at the end, from the moment the intrusion is detected and the police have been notified. In this incompressible time limit that we cannot control, every second counts. We have therefore planned a device which will release smoke inside the protected room, where we will no longer see anything for several seconds, and which will be very unpleasant for the eyes. In general, this last link scares away the intruder”, he concludes. Finally, he advises Verisure customers to affix the deterrent sticker outside their home. “A burglar who has a choice will always choose the house next door!” This year, be vigilant, and equip yourself for a peaceful holiday!
