Keeping Your Vehicle, Business & Neighbourhood Safe This Season
With the holiday season soon to be in full swing, gift buying, late-night shopping and package deliveries will ramp up across British Columbia. Unfortunately, the holidays also bring a predictable spike in crime of opportunity — especially when it comes to vehicle break-ins and the theft of belongings. Thieves know parking lots will be full, shoppers will be rushed, and cars will often be left unattended with valuables inside.
What feels like a small incident to one driver – a smashed window, a missing shopping bag or a stolen backpack – can quickly become part of a wider pattern affecting multiple families, retailers and neighbourhoods. For a family, it may mean the loss of gifts. For a business, it can mean damaged vehicles, delayed deliveries, and higher insurance claims. These types of crimes take only seconds, and police and insurers continue to warn that they rise sharply between November and January.
Holiday shopping creates ideal conditions for break-ins. Vehicles are often left in poorly lit parking lots, side streets, parkades or curbside late at night. Drivers return to their cars with bags and packages, only to leave them visible in the back seat while they continue shopping. Delivery vehicles make rapid stops, and even a brief moment with doors unlocked can be enough time for a thief to grab a parcel. Criminals aren’t always looking for cash – they’ll take wrapped gifts, tools, electronics, clothing, even loose change.
Fortunately, there are simple ways to make your vehicle a less attractive target. Parking in well-lit areas, locking all doors, and removing bags, gifts and electronics from view remains the most effective deterrent. Even moving items to a trunk before arriving at a shopping centre helps reduce temptation. For online shoppers, using secure parcel lockers, delivery scheduling or pickup options can prevent packages from being left unattended at homes or building entrances.
Businesses and delivery operators can take similar precautions. Company vehicles should be locked whenever unattended, with valuables, tools and merchandise stowed out of sight. Exterior lighting around loading bays and parking areas makes a big difference, and security cameras positioned toward walkways, parkades and rear entrances can help identify repeat offenders. Employees should also be encouraged to report suspicious behaviour early — small incidents often help reveal patterns.
Neighbourhoods and business districts benefit from working collectively. BIAs can share information with merchants, track incident locations, and coordinate with police on holiday patrols. Municipalities can audit lighting in public spaces, while residents can be reminded not to leave parcels or gifts visible in parked vehicles. Even simple signage or window decals can act as a deterrent by signaling that an area is being watched.
The holidays are meant to be festive and busy – not disrupted by theft and repairs. A single break-in can result in hundreds of dollars in damage, long waits for vehicle repairs, and significant frustration for families and small businesses. And because these crimes often repeat in the same areas, prevention and awareness are key.
By staying alert, removing visible valuables and planning ahead, families, businesses and neighbourhoods can reduce the likelihood of vehicle break-ins and keep the season safe for everyone.
Blair Qualey is President and CEO of the New Car Dealers Association of BC. You can email him at [email protected]
