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While the festive season is meant to be a time to unwind from a demanding year and spend celebrating with family, it’s not always the case. In most cases, this is when criminals see more opportunities and are more likely to encounter distracted people who can be easy targets. Read on to learn more about why criminals use the festive season as their playground.

When Festive Cheer Becomes a Criminal Opportunity

The holiday season brings predictable shifts in behaviour: more people travel, homes are left empty, ATMs overflow with withdrawals, bonuses are paid out, and shopping malls are crowded. For opportunistic criminals, this combination is irresistible, from break-ins and muggings to scams and violent hijackings, crime is guaranteed to spike. Here’s what usually happens, which gives criminals more opportunities:

• Homes become targets when families leave for vacations or attend extended social gatherings.
• Shoppers get distracted, juggling bags and smartphones while thieves move unnoticed.
• Drivers lower their guard in traffic or parking areas, especially in unfamiliar holiday destinations.
• Online scammers exploit festive generosity, sending fake delivery or donation messages.
• Security visibility drops, as private guards and neighbourhood watch volunteers take breaks.

The Economic Trigger Worsens the Desperation

The high unemployment rate faced by millions of people can be a leading contributor to the festive crime surge. Around this time, more people are facing financial pressure, unemployment or debt. This desperation, combined with opportunities to target easy victims, creates a perfect environment for exploitation.

Moreover, criminal syndicates can become more active around this time, due to holiday-related movement. Everything from cellphone snatching to armed robbery increases because there’s more to take, and people are more distracted. Even minor oversights, such as forgetting to lock your car door, sharing travel plans online or stopping at a quiet intersection, can turn into a life-threatening emergency in seconds.

The Most Common Festive Crimes in South Africa

The danger you might be subjected to is mostly unpredictable. Most importantly, criminal activities are often fast and chaotic, leaving you stunned and unsure what to do next unless you have the FREE-to-use iER App to connect to the required emergency service providers immediately. While each year won’t be the same, these are some of the top crimes which are recorded over the festive months:

1. House burglaries and home invasions: Empty homes when people go on vacation, poorly lit neighbourhoods and broken alarm systems invite perpetrators to take their chances.
2. Hijackings: Criminals often use tactics like staged accidents, fake traffic stops or blocking driveways to violently take possession of your vehicle.
3. Muggings and pickpocketing: These are more common in crowded areas near taxi ranks, malls, and festive events.
4. ATM and card fraud: Criminals target people withdrawing bonuses or making year-end payments.
5. Scams and digital theft: Fake investment deals, parcel delivery messages or donation requests that appear legitimate.
6. Drunken altercations and gender-based violence: Increased alcohol consumption often fuels domestic disputes or street fights that can turn fatal.

Staying Safe During the Festive Season

The FREE-to-use iER App is an emergency lifeline designed to keep you prepared and ensure you have access to over 18,000 medical and non-medical emergency responders nationwide. While it’s a reliable app which provides a safety net, prevention is still your first line of defence. Here are some practical tips to help reduce your chances of becoming a target:

At Home

• Don’t announce travel plans on social media.
• Ensure alarms, beams, and cameras are working before leaving.
• Keep exterior lights on timers or ask neighbours to check in.
• Avoid leaving valuables visible through windows.
• Always have the iER panic button widget on your smartphone’s home screen set up before you go away.

On the Road

• Stay alert when stopping at traffic lights or driveways.
• Avoid quiet routes or isolated petrol stations, especially at night.
• Don’t pick up hitchhikers or stop for broken-down vehicles unless you’ve found a way to verify the situation.
• If followed, drive to the nearest police station or public area and send an alert from the FREE-to-use iER App.

At ATMs or Shopping Centres

• Never accept assistance from strangers.
• Shield your PIN and stay alert for anyone who lingers suspiciously while you’re making a withdrawal.
• Keep your bag zipped and phone out of sight.
• If you suspect someone’s watching you, move to a crowded area and alert nearby security personnel immediately.

Shopping Online

• Be sceptical of festive deals, giveaways, or urgent prompts to sign up for anything that requires your private information and banking details.
• Verify all delivery messages before clicking links.
• Use two-step verification for banking and online purchases.

The festive season should be a time to relax, not live in fear. However, criminals don’t take time off; the holidays are their busiest time, when they rely on complacency and distraction to prey on victims. The key to staying safe is awareness, preparation, and connection to reliable emergency support through the FREE-to-use iER App, which connects you with nationwide medical and non-medical emergency responders when your safety is threatened.