Staying Safe This Holiday Season: Identifying and Avoiding Common Public Dangers

The holidays are a time for celebration, family, and giving but unfortunately, they’re also peak season for opportunist criminals. From porch pirates to crowded parking lots and long road trips in bad weather, the risks go up significantly between Thanksgiving and New Year’s.

At BL Outfitters, we believe the best defense is awareness and simple preparation. Here’s your no nonsense guide to the most common holiday season threats and exactly what you can do about them.

Home Defense: Protecting What Matters When You’re Busy Celebrating

The Unique Holiday Threats to Your Home

• Package deliveries explode. Porch piracy is a year round problem, but the sheer volume of boxes left on doorsteps in November and December makes your house a more attractive target.

• Even if break-ins aren’t dramatically more frequent, the payoff is bigger. Insurance data shows the average value of items stolen during a holiday burglary is roughly 5–10 % higher than the yearly average new TVs, gaming consoles, jewelry, and other gifts make it worth the risk for thieves.

• Houses often sit empty longer. Travel, shopping trips, school programs, and parties mean your home can look unoccupied for hours or days at a time.

Simple, Effective Home-Safeguarding Tips

• Move the Christmas tree (and presents) away from front windows. A brightly lit tree covered in gifts is basically an advertisement that says “expensive stuff inside.”

• Make the house look lived in. Ask a trusted neighbor to park in your driveway, shovel snow, or pick up mail and packages while you’re gone.

• Break down boxes before trash day. Don’t leave the empty 65″ OLED TV box standing upright at the curb in a clear recycling bag cut it up and turn it inside out or take it to the dump yourself.

• Use delivery options that reduce exposure. Amazon Lockers, work addresses, or “deliver to garage/trunk” services keep packages out of sight.

• Timers for lights, TVs, and radios are cheap and effective. A $15 smart plug on a random schedule is often more convincing than leaving every light blazing 24/7.

Staying Safe While Shopping & Attending Holiday Events

The Unique Personal-Safety Risks

• Crowds are bigger and people are more stressed. Financial pressure, family drama, and packed parking lots shorten everyone’s fuse.

• You’re often in unfamiliar territory new malls, downtown tree lighting events, or a relative’s neighborhood.

• “Slider crimes” spike. Thieves walk parking lots trying door handles, looking for unlocked cars with visible purses or shopping bags.

• Distraction is at an all-time high. Phones, kids, shopping lists, and holiday music make it easy to miss the person following you a little too closely.

Practical Safety Habits

• Identify exits and cover the moment you enter any building. It takes 10 seconds and works everywhere malls, churches, restaurants, movie theaters.

• Plan extra time. Rushing through crowds raises your stress and drops your awareness. Arriving early and leaving late keeps you out of the peak crush.

• Never leave purchases visible in the car. After every stop, put bags in the trunk or under seats before moving to the next store not after you park at the next place.

• Lock your doors immediately. Get in the habit of hitting the lock button the second you sit down, even if you’re just running into the gas station for two minutes.

• Shop with a buddy when possible, and keep your head on a swivel in parking lots after dark.

Holiday Travel Considerations: Roads, Airports, and Everything In Between

The Biggest Travel Risks

• You’re not on your normal commute. Longer distances, unfamiliar routes, relatives’ houses, or college kids driving home for the first time in months.

• Traffic volume skyrockets. More cars = more fender-benders and full blown accidents.

• Winter weather. Snow, ice, and black ice turn routine drives into high risk events.

• Rest stops, gas stations, and airport terminals are full of tired, distracted people prime targets for pickpockets and thieves.

Smart Travel Prep Checklist

In the car, always carry:

• Blankets & warm clothes

• Bottled water & high-protein snacks

• First-aid kit & any critical medication

• Phone charger or power bank

• Ice scraper, small shovel, and kitty litter/sand for traction

Before you leave:

• Check tire pressure (including the spare) and make sure your jack and lug wrench are in the trunk.

• Top off windshield washer fluid winter mix, not summer.

• Download offline maps in case cell service drops.

At rest stops & gas stations:

• Lock your vehicle every single time, even if you’re just 20 feet away at the pump.

• Don’t leave valuables on the seat throw a blanket over them or lock them in the trunk.

At the airport:

• Never leave bags or laptops unattended even for “just a second” to grab coffee.

• Use the hotel or airport WiFi? Turn on your VPN. Public networks are a hacker’s holiday buffet.

Final Thought

The holidays should be about joy, not worry.

A few minutes of planning and a couple of new habits can eliminate 95 % of the most common risks. Stay aware, stay prepared, and enjoy the season with the people you love.

Safe holidays from all of us at BL Outfitters! www.bloutfitters.com

Holiday Season Safety Checklist

Downloadable & Printable

Home Defense Checklist

•  Move Christmas tree & gifts away from front windows

•  Set indoor/outdoor lights and TV/radio on timers or smart plugs

•  Stop mail & newspaper delivery (or have a neighbor grab it daily)

•  Ask a trusted neighbor to:  

  • Park in your driveway occasionally  

  • Shovel snow / rake leaves  

  • Hold packages or bring them inside

•  Use secure delivery options:   

  • Amazon Locker / UPS Access Point   

  • Deliver to work, garage, or trunk

•  Break down & hide boxes for expensive items (TVs, gaming consoles, etc.)

•  Test security cameras, doorbell cam, and motion lights

Shopping & Parking Lot Safety Checklist

•  Shop with a friend when possible

•  Park in well lit areas, close to entrances if possible

•  Lock car doors immediately after entering

•  Put all bags in trunk or completely out of sight BEFORE driving to next store

•  Identify 2 exits and potential cover every time you enter a store, mall, or event

•  Carry only what you need (leave extra cards/cash at home

•  Keep phone charged and wallet in front pocket or cross-body bag

•  Avoid using phone while walking through parking lots

•  Trust your gut if someone feels off, move toward other people or security

Vehicle Winter Travel Emergency Kit (Keep in Trunk)

•  Blankets or sleeping bags (wool or fleece)

•  Extra warm clothes, hats, gloves

•  Bottled water (rotate every 6 months)

•  High calorie non perishable snacks (protein bars, nuts)

•  First-aid kit + any prescription meds

•  Flashlight + extra batteries

•  Jumper cables

•  Small shovel & bag of kitty litter/sand

•  Ice scraper & snow brush

•  Phone charger / power bank

•  Spare tire checked for proper pressure

•  Jack & lug wrench confirmed in vehicle

Pre-Trip Vehicle Checks

•  Tires (tread + pressure, including spare)

•  Windshield washer fluid (winter formula)

•  Antifreeze level

•  Battery tested

•  Gas tank at least ½ full before long trips

•  Offline maps downloaded

Gas Station / Rest Stop Safety

•  Lock vehicle every time you step away even at the pump

•  Pay at the pump when possible

•  Stay aware don’t wear headphones

•  Walk around your vehicle before re entering (check for anyone hiding)

Airport & Public Transit Safety

•  Never leave bags or devices unattended

•  Use a VPN on public Wi-Fi

•  Keep boarding pass & ID in a secure pocket

•  Wear backpack/purse in front in crowded areas

Print this checklist, check items off as you go, and have a safe, stress free holiday season!

Stay aware. -Stay Dangerous - Brandon. BL Outfitters Team www.bloutfitters.com