SOUTH East residents are urged to be careful of crooks this holiday season in response to increased thefts and scam activity.
According to RAA Insurance data, burglary claims across South Australia spike by 15pc during the festive season, with homeowners urged to be extra vigilant.
RAA secure services senior manager Ben Nottage said homeowners should take steps to ensure they do not become victims of theft over the summer holidays.
Mr Nottage urged homeowners to think beyond the traditional risk of burglary these holidays when shopping or browsing online.
“Our research shows that 39pc of people feel their online activity negatively impacts their personal safety and with online activity increasing during the Christmas and new year sales period, it’s a timely reminder for people to watch out for scammers when shopping from home,” he said.
Mr Nottage said people could take steps to help reduce the chance of falling victim to home burglary and cyberspace scammers.
“Online scams are becoming increasingly sophisticated and difficult to spot, both over the phone and online, so people really need to be informed and stay on guard,” he said.
“When shopping online, make sure you only use trusted shopping sites and if in doubt, do some background checking before making a purchase.
“It is also a good idea to check your bank statements more frequently over the Christmas and new year period to keep an eye out for any irregularities and never give your personal or security details in response to an unsolicited email, phone call or SMS – even if it looks legitimate.
