Christmas is often thought of as a time of giving, yet some find themselves taking during the holidays instead. December is often when crime reaches its zenith each year, with a whopping five to twenty percent increase above the yearly average. There could be several reasons for this, whether it is the homeless searching for a warm place to stay for the night or people driving drunk because they don’t want to walk in the snow. But what if I said there may be a correlation between Christmas and crime? And what if we asked even more questions–what if the holidays are responsible for the increase in crime?

December has had a long correlation with the holidays. As far back as the Celts, there were holidays in December. Toji, Dong Zhi, and Soyal are just a few more obscure winter celebrations. So festivities are rooted historically in this month. With such a rich history of traditions, it has become a part of all cultures to associate December with festivities. Further, it is no secret that many December holidays are based on the concept of giving and general charity. Christmas, Hanukkah, and Kwanzaa all have a gift tradition, to name a few.

According to law information site HG.org, robbery, larceny, and cybercrime rise drastically during the holidays. This is no surprise. Criminals are opportunists. What time of the year has more luxuries and valuables circulating than the holidays? Criminals use this information to their advantage and often target people knowing that they have gifts for the holidays inside their homes. Several articles report Christmas gifts being stolen right from under the tree, while others steal gifts from the trunks of unattended cars. Either way, holiday gifts are stolen.

While the crime rates do rise, and there are holiday-related crimes, there is no way to say that every criminal or even most criminals committing crimes during December are distinctly stealing because of the holidays. As I have said before, criminals often see opportunity in the illegal, so any advantage is an advantage. So what if it’s Christmas or Kwanzaa? There are valuable things to take, and, at the end of the day, that’s what counts if you’re stealing to make a living. It can also be argued that some people steal during the holidays as a means of providing gifts for their own families. After all, 3.7% of the U.S. population is unemployed, and while many will find jobs eventually, they are currently stuck in a situation where their income is either stunted or nonexistent.

In conclusion, thieves are searching for vulnerability at this moment, consumers, so don’t let your guard down.