The out-of-office replies are almost ready. The year-end lunch is booked. The family WhatsApp group is debating who is hosting. As the festive calendar fills up, one detail deserves a place alongside the food, music and guest list: security.
At Fidelity ADT, we want the season to be remembered for good company and happy occasions. Whether you are heading out with colleagues, meeting friends at a restaurant or firing up the braai at home, a little planning can help keep your celebrations on track.
Busy venues, distracted guests and gates left open for just a moment can create opportunities for crime. Our advice is simple: make safety part of the plan before the celebrations begin.
Before the first toast
Decide how you are getting home before you leave. Arrange a trusted lift, a designated driver or a reputable ride service so that transport is sorted long before the evening winds down. Avoid accepting lifts from strangers.
If you are driving, choose a well-lit, secure parking area and keep valuables out of sight. A laptop bag on the back seat or a handbag visible through a window can attract unwanted attention. Where possible, walk back to your vehicle with someone you know.
Enjoy the moment and stay aware
A lively conversation can make it easy to forget the phone on the table or the bag hanging over a chair. Keep your belongings close and your drink with you. Stay aware of what is happening around you, particularly near entrances, in parking areas and while waiting for transport.
Be discreet when using your phone outside a venue. If someone’s behaviour concerns you, alert venue management or security rather than investigating yourself.
And let the social media update wait. Posting your location in real time can also advertise that your home is empty. Share the highlights once you are safely home.
Hosting at home starts at the gate
When the doorbell keeps ringing and the braai needs attention, leaving the gate open can feel convenient. Keep it closed between arrivals and confirm who is outside using your intercom or gate camera before granting access.
If space allows, have guests park inside the property behind a closed gate. Where street parking is unavoidable, remind them to lock their vehicles and remove visible valuables.
Before guests arrive, check that outdoor lights and motion sensors are working, especially around entrances, driveways and darker corners. Make sure your electric fencing is operational and use outdoor beams in areas that will not be occupied by guests. Where possible, perimeter security should be linked to an armed response service.
Keep security working while you entertain
A gathering in the garden does not require the rest of the house to be left unsecured. Keep unused doors, windows and security gates locked, and arm unoccupied areas if your alarm system allows it. As guests move between indoor and outdoor spaces, check that access points have not been left open.
Keep panic buttons within easy reach, including when entertaining outdoors. These small preparations are easier to manage before everyone arrives, and the host is pulled in several directions.
At Fidelity ADT, we encourage everyone to carry everyday security habits into the festive season. A closed gate, a secure bag and a planned lift home may seem like small details, but they can help reduce avoidable risks.
Put safety on the guest list, then make room for the moments worth celebrating.
Issued by Fidelity Services Group
