Criminals are after 7 items in South Africa this holiday – and they’re looking for homes that have them
South African homeowners are being warned that burglaries increase by nearly 50% during the festive season, and criminals tend to target electronics, tools, alcohol, jewellery, gate motors, security beams, and valuable artworks.
This is according to insurance and security experts, who stress that the December holidays is the most active period for criminals looking for opportunities.
Charnel Hattingh, Group Head of Marketing and Communications at Fidelity ADT, said criminals are highly alert during the holidays and are quick to notice when homeowners are preparing to leave.
Once a property is unattended, thieves move fast, often seeking out items that can be easily carried, concealed, resold or repurposed.
Hattingh previously told BusinessTech that electronics remain among the most frequently stolen goods, with televisions, laptops, gaming consoles and smartphones topping the list.
Jewellery and watches also continue to be attractive because of their high resale value and portability.
Power tools are another favourite, as they fetch quick cash on the second-hand market. Alcohol is also commonly stolen from homes, especially over the festive season, when high volumes are stocked for entertaining.
Fidelity ADT has observed a growing trend of thieves targeting security equipment itself in 2025, especially outdoor beams.
These devices are often stolen to disable security systems and compromise properties for future break-ins.
Gate motors are another sought-after item and have become a booming underground market.
Many are resold intact for between R1,500 and R4,000, while others are stripped for parts such as batteries and gearboxes.
Opportunistic thieves move between neighbourhoods, watching for homes where these devices are accessible and can be removed quickly.
A newer and more concerning trend is the targeting of valuable artworks.
Gail Bosch, Product Head at iTOO Artinsure, told BusinessTech that several high-profile thefts in 2025 show how criminals have shifted towards stealing sculptures and paintings.
One such incident occurred in Pringle Bay, where seven sculptures worth more than R1 million were stolen in what appeared to be a highly coordinated operation.
CCTV cameras were disabled, and only artworks by well-known artists Anton Smit and Janko de Beer were taken, which suggested insider knowledge and careful planning.
Massive spike in burglaries over the holidays
Trellidor CFO Damian Judge warned that South Africans should brace for another sharp rise in holiday-season crime and emphasised that homeowners must prepare accordingly.
“Burglaries increase by nearly 50% during the festive season, and you need to be prepared for that,” he said.
The judge noted that crime increases when families leave homes vacant for weeks, while holiday towns attract criminals due to an influx of people and valuable items in empty houses. “It’s either too quiet or too busy,” he said.
Judge added that Trellidor sees this dynamic clearly in coastal destinations such as Durban. While holidaymakers bring economic activity, they also create new security challenges.
He advised homeowners to adopt a layered approach, combining perimeter security, working alarms, and physical barriers.
Before travelling, residents should check that all systems are fully functional, treat maintenance as they would before a long road trip, and ensure electric fences, beams and alarm signals are operating correctly.
Judge added that house-sitting is a valuable strategy. It offers peace of mind and can even help families manage holiday budgets through house swaps or mutual arrangements.
Pets can also serve as additional deterrents if they remain on the property. Ultimately, Judge stressed that criminals thrive on opportunity.
Reducing that opportunity, he said, is the single most effective defence: “Crime, 90% of the time, is very opportunistic.”
Insurance data supported these warnings. Ernest North, co-founder of Naked Insurance, said claims for home burglaries, electronics and smartphones rise each December, largely because homes are unoccupied while families travel.
He recommended that homeowners should lock away valuables they are not taking with them, conduct a full security walkthrough, and ensure their home-contents insurance reflects the current replacement value of their belongings.
Alarm systems must be tested before departure, and backup batteries checked. Travellers should also ensure that their valuables are properly insured.
Keeping a digital inventory of home contents is another helpful precaution. Simple videos or photos stored in the cloud, along with receipts and serial numbers, can speed up claims and reduce stress in the event of a burglary.
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