Increased Risk of Burglaries During the Christmas Holidays
Burglaries spike during Christmas and New Year’s; residents urged to take precautions as risks double on key holiday days.
In the municipality of Groningen, burglars struck five times in the past seven days, according to police data. All five cases were classified as actual burglaries. This brings the total number of reported burglaries in December to seven, with six actual burglaries and one attempt. By comparison, 26 burglaries or attempted burglaries occurred in November. The year-to-date total for Groningen now stands at 310 burglaries, with 37 recorded as attempted break-ins.
The risk of burglary traditionally spikes during the Christmas holidays, with incidents rising 14.5% in Groningen city compared to non-holiday periods. Across the province of Groningen, the increase is 12.1%, according to research by Independer based on police data. The municipality of Midden-Groningen is an outlier, where burglaries occur nearly 50% more often during the holiday season.
Key Days for Burglary
Burglars target specific days during the holiday period, with New Year’s Day posing the greatest risk. Since 2020, the number of burglaries on January 1 has been 114.8% higher than on an average day. Other high-risk days include:
Boxing Day (+109.1%)
Christmas Day (+77.4%)
Christmas Eve (+61.9%)
New Year’s Eve (+46.5%)
Protect Your Home During the Holidays
Short days, darker evenings, and vacant homes make the holidays an opportune time for burglars. Michel Ypma, a home insurance expert at Independer, advises homeowners to take preventative measures: “With good lighting and sturdy locks, you can make your home a lot less attractive to thieves.”
As the Christmas season approaches, residents in Groningen and surrounding areas are urged to remain vigilant and secure their homes to minimize the risk of burglary during this heightened period.