The holiday season is the busiest and most profitable time of year for many businesses. Unfortunately, thieves know it too. Between crowded stores in December, full stockrooms and quiet, empty properties over Christmas and New Year, the end of the year brings a clear rise in shoplifting, smash-and-grab burglaries, vandalism and site theft.
The good news is that most of this crime is opportunistic. With a few simple changes and the right security in place, you can make your business a much harder target. This guide covers what to watch for, practical steps for open hours and closed days, and how 24/7 live video monitoring protects you through the whole season.
Why theft increases at Christmas and New Year
- More stock on hand. Shelves, stockrooms and loading docks are full of high-value products ready for the holiday rush.
- Crowded, distracted stores. Long queues and busy staff make it easier for shoplifters to slip items into bags or coats.
- Seasonal and new staff. Temporary workers are still learning procedures and may not spot suspicious behaviour.
- Bulky winter clothing. Heavy coats and large shopping bags make concealment easier.
- Dark evenings. Shorter days mean more hours of darkness around opening and closing time.
- Closed and empty properties. Construction sites, offices, warehouses and dealerships often close for days or even weeks, leaving no one on site.
- New Year's Eve celebrations. Late-night crowds bring a higher risk of vandalism, trespassing and break-ins.
Common shoplifting tactics during the holidays
Knowing the tricks helps your team spot them early:
- Distraction teams: one person keeps staff busy with questions while another takes merchandise.
- Lined or "booster" bags: shopping bags modified to hide items and defeat security tags.
- Concealment in clothing, prams and gift bags.
- Grab-and-run near the entrance, especially with electronics, fragrances, alcohol and designer goods.
- Return fraud: stealing an item and then "returning" it for cash or store credit.
- Price-tag switching and scanning cheaper items at self-checkouts.
- Organised groups that visit several stores in one trip and target high-value products.
10 tips to prevent shoplifting while your store is open
- Greet every customer. Friendly eye contact tells honest shoppers they are welcome and tells shoplifters they have been noticed.
- Keep high-value items close to staff. Place them near the till, in locked cases or within view of a camera.
- Clear sight lines. Avoid tall holiday displays that create blind spots.
- Make cameras visible. Visible cameras and a public view monitor near the entrance are a strong deterrent.
- Brief your seasonal staff on common tactics and what to do if they suspect theft. Staff safety always comes first.
- Control fitting rooms with item limits and a staff member nearby.
- Watch the self-checkouts and keep an attendant close during peak hours.
- Tighten your returns policy for the season, for example receipts required for cash refunds.
- Limit cash in the till and make regular safe drops, especially before closing.
- Use two people for opening and closing on dark winter mornings and evenings.
Protecting your business when it is closed
For many businesses, the biggest risk is not the busy shopping days but the quiet ones. Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year's Day, plus long breaks between the holidays, leave properties empty for long stretches.
- Retail stores and gas stations: smash-and-grab burglaries target full stockrooms and cash after closing.
- Construction sites: many sites shut for one to two weeks, so tools, copper, fuel and heavy equipment sit unattended.
- Car dealerships: lots full of vehicles are targets for catalytic converter, wheel and vehicle theft.
- Warehouses and logistics yards: peak-season inventory and loaded trailers attract cargo theft.
- Parking lots and apartments: holiday gifts left in cars and package deliveries are easy pickings.
Before you close for the holidays:
- Remove or lock away high-value stock, tools and cash.
- Check that every door, gate, roller shutter and window locks properly.
- Leave key lights on, or set them to timers and motion sensors.
- Make sure your cameras are working, recording and pointed at entrances, fences and valuables.
- Update your emergency contact list so the right people can be reached at any hour.
How live video monitoring protects you over the holidays
Recorded cameras only show you what happened after you come back from the break. Live video monitoring means trained agents are watching your cameras in real time, 24 hours a day, including Christmas Day and New Year's Eve.
- Store closing checks: agents confirm tills, doors, shutters and the alarm every night of the busy season, and alert you if anything is missed.
- Instant owner alerts: when a real threat is verified, we immediately alert you or your chosen contacts with live video, so you can decide the next step.
- AI video analytics: people and vehicles are detected while animals, snow, rain and moving decorations are filtered out, so alerts are real.
- Virtual guard tours: scheduled checks of every camera to confirm gates are closed, lights are on and nothing is out of place.
- Incident reports: time-stamped clips and snapshots of every event, ready for your insurance company or management.
- Holiday-only schedules: you do not need year-round cover. Monitor just the closed days, nights and the full Christmas to New Year break.
Your holiday security checklist
- Cameras cleaned, working and covering every entrance and high-value area
- Lighting checked, timers set
- High-value stock, tools and cash locked away
- Seasonal staff trained on theft prevention and safety
- Opening and closing procedures with two people
- Emergency contacts updated for the holiday period
- Live monitoring booked for closed days and nights
Book your holiday monitoring early
December is the busiest month of the year for security. If you want trained eyes on your property from Christmas through New Year, set it up before the rush. TSX Monitoring works with most existing CCTV and IP camera systems and can create a holiday-only plan for your exact dates.
Get your free holiday security quote today, and enjoy the season knowing your business is always in sight.
