As Thanksgiving approaches, many of us are preparing to travel or host large family gatherings. It’s a time to connect with family and friends over shared gratitude and good food. But unfortunately, the holiday season is also a time of increased crime.
At Security Gate & Access in Puyallup, WA, we specialize in helping homes and businesses in Western Washington stay safe with advanced security measures. As we enter the holiday season, let’s explore holiday crime rates, tips for staying safe, and home security solutions to protect your property and loved ones.
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Crimes Rates During the Holidays
If you live in Western Washington, particularly the Tacoma area, you’re probably familiar with the community’s high crime rates. Tacoma has a much higher crime rate than the U.S. average any time of year, and it’s certainly not immune to the increase in crime during holidays.
According to the National Crime Victimization Survey, robbery and personal larceny rise by approximately 20% during the holidays. This increase is typically in December, but Thanksgiving can carry many of the same risk factors and is the perfect time to start preparing.
Why Does Crime Increase During the Holiday Season?
Though the exact cause of this crime increase can’t be narrowed down to any one factor, there are several potential reasons certain crimes are more common during the holidays.
- Crowds and distracted targets: Christmas shopping is in full swing, and that means bustling stores, large crowds, and frazzled, distracted shoppers. It’s much easier to steal from a store when its staff are stretched thin by so many customers. And a distracted shopper with their arms full often makes an easy target.
- Empty homes: Many people travel for the holidays, leaving their homes empty for several days or weeks. An empty home is exactly what thieves look for.
- Packages: Packages pile up on porches and doorsteps due to online Christmas shopping, a clear temptation for theft.Â
Tips for Staying Safe this Thanksgiving
Understanding and awareness are the first steps to mitigating your risks during the holidays. Knowing the danger, you can take extra steps to protect your home or business. Here are some of the ways you can maintain business and home security this season.
Invest in security systems. If you haven’t already implemented security measures for your home or business, it’s time to do so. If you have, consider whether your current system is sufficient or needs an upgrade.
Stay alert. Don’t be distracted by your phone when out shopping, and keep your belongings secure on your person. As a business owner, inform your employees of the increased security risks during the holidays, instructing everyone to pay special attention and report suspicious activity.
Limit packages on your doorstep. Consider having packages delivered to your workplace during the holidays, or a pickup location. Use package tracking to know when your items are delivered so you can collect them as soon as possible. You can also purchase a package lockbox, or a door camera to make a criminal think twice.
Ask someone to watch your home when away. Small steps like having the lights turn on at regular times, bringing mail in, and just having someone coming and going occasionally keep your home from looking like an empty target.
Business & Home Security Solutions for Year-round Safety
Your daily habits and efforts can help, but ultimately, the best protection for your home or business is effective security measures. Security Gate & Access offers multiple personalized security solutions for residential and commercial properties.
Security Gates & Access Control
The precursor to robbery is trespassing, so the best option is to prevent a criminal from entering your premises in the first place. Consider a security gate for your home or commercial property to restrict access. Our gates come in all shapes and sizes to fit the needs of your property, allowing convenient access for employees and residents but barring intruders at the front door.
An effective security gate requires advanced access control. From card readers to biometric credentials, we can help you select the best option that suits your home, gated community, or business.
Video Surveillance
Security cameras are ideal solutions for stores and homes. Visible cameras tell would-be thieves that they’ll likely be caught, encouraging them to look for easier targets. A doorbell camera is effective for deterring porch pirates. If a crime does occur, quality footage can help law enforcement and make it easier for you to make an insurance claim.
Electric Fences
Electric fences are one of the most effective security measures. The most determined thieves may find ways to circumvent security cameras and gates, but there’s very little they can do to breach an electric fence. SGA is the most experienced provider of electric fences in the Puget Sound Area.
Protect Your Business & Home Security for Thanksgiving at SGA
Whether you’re out shopping, running a store, preparing to host a family gathering, or traveling to visit relatives, there are steps you can take to protect yourself and your property during the holidays. Security Gate & Access partners with you to find the most effective solutions for your business and home security needs.
Contact us today to learn more about our security options and protect your home this year. Happy Thanksgiving from our family to yours–stay safe!
