Vacation Season Thieves Target Residential Windows at Dawn

S-1 Crime Prevention Research Institute Releases Analysis of Vacation Season Burglary Crimes Over the Past 5 Years
Burglary Expected to Concentrate Between 0-6 AM During the Fourth Week of July When Vacation Season Begins

An S-1 employee is inspecting the system together with a customer in preparation for the vacation season.

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Cheol-hyun] During the peak vacation season, there is an increase in break-in crimes targeting residential windows in the early morning hours, highlighting the need for precautionary measures. Comprehensive security solution company S-1 (CEO Noh Hee-chan) announced this on the 19th while releasing the summer vacation season break-in crime trends. The S-1 Crime Prevention Research Institute analyzed break-in crime data from the past five years, focusing on the period from the fourth week of July to the second week of August, when vacations are concentrated.

The investigation revealed that the fourth week of July, when the vacation season begins, accounted for 26% of all break-in crimes during the vacation period, showing the highest incidence rate. This was mainly attributed to negligence in security checks due to excitement as the vacation season officially starts. Following this, the first week of August, the peak vacation period, accounted for 24%, the fifth week of July 22%, and the second week of August 21%. Looking at specific dates, break-ins were expected to concentrate on Friday, July 24, the fourth week of July, when the peak vacation season fully begins. The S-1 Crime Prevention Research Institute emphasized the need for special attention to security during this period.

Examining the break-in times, 66% occurred between midnight and 6 a.m., indicating that break-in crimes are concentrated during late-night hours. This is interpreted as thieves identifying empty homes in advance during the vacation season and breaking in when there are fewer people around. This was followed by nighttime hours at 19% (6 p.m. to midnight), morning hours at 9% (6 a.m. to noon), and afternoon hours at 6% (noon to 6 p.m.).

To prevent theft, it is important to avoid making it obvious that the house is empty. Applications to suspend deliveries should be made to prevent newspapers, packages, and mail from piling up in front of the house. Customers using security services can notify their vacation dates in advance to use the security company's mail collection service.

The most common break-in route was windows at 63%. This was followed by balconies at 13%, fences at 13%, and doors at 6%. Many people leave without locking windows and balconies, making security vulnerable. S-1 urged, "To prevent break-in crimes, careful attention is needed, including thoroughly checking even small windows before leaving for vacation."

Looking at break-in crimes by housing type, detached houses accounted for 69%, higher than multi-family houses at 25% and apartments at 6%. This is analyzed to be because detached houses have more possible entry points such as windows and balconies. Thieves breaking into residential facilities mainly target jewelry (60%) and cash (40%). The S-1 Crime Prevention Research Institute emphasized the need for thorough preparation to prevent theft damage, such as storing valuables and cash in safes and, if necessary, moving them to separate locations to minimize break-in theft damage.

Recently, break-in crime methods have become more sophisticated. Criminals monitor vacation posts on social media to select crime locations or deduce passwords by analyzing fingerprint traces on digital door locks. The method of secretly installing cameras in front of entrance doors to steal passwords is also on the rise.

In response, advanced security solutions incorporating cutting-edge technology are gaining attention to counter increasingly intelligent vacation season break-in crimes. To enjoy a worry-free vacation, considering the use of security services is worthwhile. Recently, security services integrating artificial intelligence (AI) technology with CCTV have become popular. These products not only automatically detect abnormal behaviors such as break-ins and thefts but also allow users to find recorded footage using voice commands, making them convenient. Especially, by installing a dedicated app, users can arm or disarm the security system anytime and anywhere, providing greater peace of mind even while on vacation.

An S-1 official stated, "As customers who had refrained from going out are expected to leave their homes more frequently during the summer vacation season, break-in crimes are also expected to increase. We will do our best to prevent vacation season break-in crimes by utilizing the Crime Prevention Research Institute's analysis results and advanced security technology."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.