Tips to safeguard your home from theft these holidays

15 December, 2025

Two in five (40%) surveyed Australians are planning trips to visit family or friends this holiday season¹
One in four (24%) surveyed Australians are planning day trips out during the summer period²
Allianz is urging Aussies keep their homes safe with simple security measures when travelling: half (47%) of surveyed Australians fail to secure their property against robbery when away for two or more nights³

Research from Allianz Australia shows nearly half (40%) of Australians are planning a getaway to visit family or friends this Christmas and New Year, however, less than half (41%) of those leaving for holidays will ask someone to check on their property, leaving many homes potentially vulnerable.⁴

With Allianz data revealing that theft claims spiked to $1.62m over the two weeks covering the holiday season last year, 31% higher than the following two weeks⁵, it’s a timely reminder to Australians of the dangers associated with leaving the home unattended without putting precautions in place. To help more people feel secure over the festive season, Allianz wants Aussies to know how to best protect their home while they are away.

Luke Whenman, Allianz Australia’s Chief Claims Officer said, “The summer holidays should be about enjoying time with family and friends, getting some well-deserved rest, and not worrying about the safety and security of your home if you’re away. Whether you own your own home, or are renting, there is more we all could be doing to help protect our properties while we are away – starting with a simple security check before walking out the door.

“Our homes are a hub of celebration and relaxation during summer, but they’re also vulnerable when left unprotected. With claims often increasing over the summer period, it’s vital to put simple precautions in place such as ensuring all doors, windows, and locks are properly secured before heading away, and asking your neighbours to keep an eye on your place. These small steps can make a big difference in ensuring your home is secure and you are able to enjoy the holiday season over summer.

“I also encourage anyone going away for an extended period to check their home and contents insurance cover to make sure they are adequately covered in the event something should happen. That way you can relax and enjoy your time away knowing your valuables are protected.”

Allianz Australia’s tips to protect your home this holiday season include:

Keep your house secure: Simple security measures you can take before walking out the door include locking windows and doors, setting an alarm, closing your blinds, and asking a trusted friend to check on your home while you are away and take in your post.
Create a contents inventory: Register all your important items so you know what you own.
Create a record: Using your contents inventory as a guide, take photos or a video of all the rooms in your house and outside areas to make sure you can spot missing items. Make sure you save these files somewhere safe, such as a password protected document on your laptop, phone, or a hard copy in a fireproof box.
Review your sum insured amounts: You can use an online Home and Contents calculator to estimate sum insured values to ensure your insurance policy suits your individual circumstances.
Check and update your insurance: Review your sum insured amounts and the type and level of cover that you need, and make any updates required.

References

40% of surveyed Australians plan to visit a family or friend at their home, restaurant or outdoor location during the festive season this year.
24% of surveyed Australians plan to go on day trips during the festive season this year.
53% of surveyed Australians secure their home to prevent robbery e.g. locking all windows and doors when leaving their home unattended for 2+ nights in summer.
Of the 40% of surveyed Australians who are planning to getaway over the holidays, there are 41% of those surveyed Australians that ask a neighbour or friend to check in when leaving their home unattended for 2+ nights in summer.
According to Allianz Home & Contents and Landlords insurance claims data, in the 14 days over the Christmas/NY holiday season (23 December - 5 January) in 2024-2025, Allianz recorded total theft claims costing $1.62m, 31% higher than the $1.24m seen in the 14 days following (6 January - 19 January) and 60% higher than the $1.01m incurred in the second half of January (20 January - 2 Feb).

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About the research

The research was conducted via Pureprofile, an Australian owned Data and Insights business that sampled 1000 Australian men and women aged between 18-65+, in line with the current ABS census statistics. The fieldwork was conducted between 5-10 of November 2025.

About Allianz Australia

Allianz Australia has been securing the future of our customers in Australia since 1914. We deliver a wide range of personal and commercial insurance products and services to more than 4 million policyholders. We also provide support for workers' compensation insurance to around 25% of the top 200 ASX companies, making us one of the leading workers' compensation insurers in Australia.

Allianz Australia Limited is a wholly owned subsidiary of the worldwide Allianz Group. The Allianz Group is one of the world's leading insurers and asset managers with corporate customers in more than 70 countries. Allianz customers benefit from a broad range of personal and corporate insurance services, ranging from property, life, and health insurance to assistance services, credit insurance and global business insurance. Thanks to our systematic integration of ecological and social criteria in our business processes and investment decisions, we are among the leaders in the insurance industry in the Dow Jones Sustainability Index.

Disclaimer

This article has been prepared by Allianz Australia Insurance Limited ABN 15 000 122 850 AFSL234708 (“Allianz”). In some cases, information has been provided to us by third parties and while that information is believed to be accurate and reliable, its accuracy is not guaranteed in any way.

Any opinions expressed constitute our views at the time of issue and are subject to change. Neither Allianz, nor its employees or directors give any warranty of accuracy or accept responsibility for any loss or liability incurred by you in respect of any error, omission or misrepresentation in this article.

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