It might be the season of goodwill, but Christmas is also in possession of a rather more negative face when it comes to making the headlines. Year upon year, crime always spikes when yuletide approaches, and we don’t expect that this year will be any different. In bygone years, people have ironically referred to the ’12 crimes of Christmas’ in reference to the famous festive ditty, and, when you look at statistics, there is certainly a lot of evidence to fuel such a tongue-in-cheek opinion.
Christmas Crime
Christmas time does indeed seem to promote the growth of numerous felonies, including harassment, domestic violence, drink-driving and trying to dodge restaurant bills, but probably the most famous Christmas time crimes relate to theft and burglary. Shoplifting, car theft and plain old breaking and entering are all rife in certain districts around Christmas, and the worrying fact is that ongoing initiatives to combat such wrongdoings don’t seem to be doing that much good.
On the Rise…?
Obviously, it’s all relative, but figures are suggesting that crime is still rising, and indeed it’s doing so at the most rapid rate for around ten years. Across the country, over 75% of the police forces have recorded increases in crime, and over 800 more crimes per day are apparently being reported than previous years. Considering the number of crime-reducing proposals that we’ve seen over the years, these sorts of statistics aren’t heartening, but there is another side to the story as well.
Alternative Viewpoints
Some argue that, because crime has fallen consistently over the last 10 years or so, an increase was almost inevitable. After all, misdeeds couldn’t keep dwindling away until they became altogether extinct. It’s a fair point, but what shouldn’t be overshadowed is that you need to be very careful at Christmas. In terms of attractive possessions and the like, buildings are fuller during the festive season than at any other time of year, and that’s something that you need to take into account.
How We Can Help…
When it comes to security and peace of mind at Christmas time, but also all throughout the calendar year, it’s very important to have robust locks and other systems like alarms in place, and at AFS Security we’ve definitely got your back. If you need a locksmith in Kent or the surrounding areas, we’re the go-to service, as we’ve successfully met the needs of hundreds of domestic and commercial clients over many years in the industry. Our professional craftsmen use only products from the most respected brands, so whatever your security requirement might be, we can help. Contact us now by calling +44(0)208 471 9000 or email enquiries@afs-security.com to find out more.
