As we all know December is an expensive time of the year that while brings joy, can also be quite daunting. According to the Bank of England, the UK the average monthly household spending increases by 30% during this time. This essentially means that we have over 5 weeks of expenses on the same pay cheque, which needless to say, without preparation or some disposable income puts a real strain on our finances.
There is only few more traumatic than becoming a victim of a crime like burglary. The stress and violation of knowing your personal space has been compromised by theft or vandalism can leave you feeling unsafe in your own home. This shock is immediately followed by the cold, practical hassle of filling out police forms and complex insurance claims, all while you're still trying to process what has just happened.
This devastation multiplies during the festive period. A burglary in December isn't just about stolen electronics; it's about the added, heartbreaking stress of trying to fix Christmas. With the rising cost of living putting on the pressure, according to our research from the ONS Christmas plans data of 2023 (which we will keep referring back to throughout this article), 29% of people were worried about being able to afford the things they planned on buying for Christmas. 39% of people spread the cost to make the holiday affordable so losing gifts you've saved all year for, or having your home damaged while you're out for New Year's Eve, is a financial and emotional blow many families simply can't recover from.
This December, the squeeze from the rising cost of living is undeniable. Normally an average household would spend £623.30 weekly, including the 29% increase the average family will be spending an extra £182 per week. With presents bought and money tight, the last thing any family needs is the financial and emotional fallout from a break-in. ONS research highlights this strain, showing 46% of people planned on spending less than they normally do over the Christmas period, and 29% had to take money out of their savings just to pay for it.
Yet, the pull of family and friends remains strong. The same ONS research shows 86% of people planned to leave their homes to meet up with loved ones. This combination of high-value items in the home and increased time away creates a perfect storm for theft and vandalism.
These aren't just claims; they create very real opportunities for home invasions:
The Daily Risk: Even our normal trip to work becomes a heightened risk. With severe winter weather causing traffic jams and slower average speeds, our home is left unattended for longer, leaving all those carefully bought presents exposed and vulnerable.
The Post-Christmas Strike: Consider a scenario that is possibly worse: the kids have opened their presents, and you're all heading off to the grandparents’ to have Christmas dinner and spend the weekend. You leave full of joy, only to find your brand-new presents stolen while you were away.
The statistics paint a clear picture of just how empty our homes are. A staggering 36% of adults—totalling 10.08 million dwellings—intend to stay overnight elsewhere from Christmas to Boxing Day morning. With so many opportunities all in one night, having all that excitement ripped away would be crushing for anyone, especially children.
The potential impact is undeniably high in December, but the need to protect your home from burglary and vandalism is a 365-day-a-year concern. While the emotional and financial strain of a festive break-in is devastating, especially with the current cost of living, in home safety provides peace of mind long after the decorations come down. For a year-round analysis (with an emphasis on winter and autumn months), give our burglary statistics article a quick a read.
As we have discussed there are many reasons creating a bigger risk of a burglary leading up to New Year’s Eve, there are also many ways you can limit the chances of this happening to you specifically. These methods can range from simple security checks before you go out to full blown defence systems, but we recommend a powerful, cost-effective middle ground. CCTV provides you with different forms of proactive and reactive security that can be used to deter criminals. Listed below are the technologies recommended by our team that are best suited for preventing unwanted behaviour.
Motion Detection: This is your digital tripwire. Smart systems can instantly detect movement from human, vehicles and sometimes pets in specific zones, sending an immediate alert straight to your phone. You know the instant someone is on your property who shouldn't be. In conjunction with other features this acts as a very powerful middle man.
Remote View: Whether you're at work, stuck in festive traffic, or away for the holiday, remote viewing is a staple feature of any modern-day CCTV system. You can check live feed of your home from anywhere in the world via your smartphone, providing instant reassurance that everything is secure. Combined with motion detection you can rest assured that the car that just pulled onto your front drive was your partner arriving home from work before you.
Lights: Lights can cause different effects; white lights can bring colour to any scene making identifiers like colour of clothes and skin tone clear, perfect for the long December nights. Whereas red and blue strobe lights give the effect of emergency service lights drawing much more attention from neighbours and passersby.
Alarms & Audio: Like the lights, audio is a great way to draw attention to unwanted activity, two-way audio is the perfect disguise for convincing delivery drivers or unexpected visitors you’re “putting the kids to bed” when in reality you’re filling your stomach at Christmas dinner.
Provides Invaluable Evidence: In the worst-case scenario where a break-in does occur, CCTV footage backs you up from beginning to end. It provides clear, undeniable evidence that perfectly identifies intruders and any items that may have been taken in the process. Just as importantly, streamlines your insurance claims, ensuring you aren't left to foot the bill.
DORI Numbers: while not strictly a technology, DORI numbers allow you to determine how far you can identify or recognise someone based on how far away they are from the camera. Using this information, placed conveniently on at the top of all our camera product pages, you can find the specific camera needed to identify someone from the boundary line.
The festive period, from the busy December build-up to the celebrations on New Year's Eve, is meant for making memories, not for managing a crisis. However, as we've outlined, the unfortunate reality of the winter months is a heightened risk of burglary and other invasive crimes, a risk that is tragically amplified by the current cost of living crisis. A break-in during this time isn't just a violation of safety; it's a financial blow that many families can't afford.
Investing in a robust CCTV system is a proactive, cost-effective step to reclaim your peace of mind. The technologies discussed—from instant motion alerts and remote viewing on your phone to active deterrents like lights and alarms—transform your home from an easy target into a prepared monitoring property. They are your eyes and ears when you're stuck in traffic, visiting family, or ringing in the New Year. In the worst-case scenario, this technology provides the undeniable evidence needed for police reports and insurance claims, ensuring a stressful situation doesn't become a financial disaster.
Don't let the fear of a break-in cast a shadow over your celebrations. Protecting your home is one of the most powerful investments you can make. This December, secure your home, protect your family, and focus on the joy of the season. Explore our full range of smart CCTV systems today and treat the whole family to year-round safety.