Pre‑Xmas Security Checklist: Protect Your Business This Holiday Season

As the days shorten and the holiday rush begins, opportunistic crime often follows. At Auckland Security Cameras, we encourage every business owner to run this 10-minute security audit before the end-of-year break. Backed by recent New Zealand data, this checklist is designed to reduce vulnerability and give you peace of mind over the busy season.

Why It Matters — Some Recent NZ Data

• Retail crime in New Zealand costs the sector NZD $2.6 billion annually (stock loss, theft, vandalism)
• In 2023–24, retail crime reports jumped ~20% compared to prior years, with shoplifting/theft rising sharply
• Police report that ram raids (vehicles used to smash into shops) are on the rise again this year, putting small retailers at high risk
• Fraud and deception now account for ~29% of all reported crime in NZ, making internal security (access, passwords, monitoring) just as important as physical protection
• In Auckland specifically, burglary risk is moderate — approximately 13 burglaries per 1,000 residents annually

These figures show that your business is part of a broader security landscape — not all threats come from strangers; many come from gaps in system maintenance, staff oversight, or weak controls.

Pre‑Xmas Security Audit (10 Minutes)

1. Check Your Cameras

• ☐ Walk your site and view each camera’s live feed. Ensure clarity, correct pointing, and no dirt, water spots, or glare.
• ☐ Cover all critical zones: entrances, exits, stock rooms, parking areas. No blind spots.
• ☐ Test remote viewing and recording function: can you see footage off-site on your phone/computer?

Bonus Tip: Record your face at various distances from the camera. You’ll soon know whether it meets your expectations. If not, either increase the camera resolution, zoom the lens, or add another camera closer.

2. Update Your System

• ☐ Log into your DVR/NVR or camera software and apply any firmware updates.
• ☐ Ensure motion alerts / push notifications / email alerts are enabled and working (test by walking through zones).

3. Secure Access

• ☐ Make sure your passwords are strong.

Tip for Mac Terminal:
openssl rand -base64 24

4. Lighting & Perimeter

• ☐ Outdoor lights should be functional and ideally motion-sensitive.
• ☐ Trim or remove foliage that blocks camera views or provides hiding spots.
• ☐ Check all gates, back doors, secondary entries — lock them.

Bonus Tip: If you need license plates at night, get a license plate camera. Otherwise, you’ll only get headlight bloom shots for the scrapbook!

5. Alarm & Monitoring

• ☐ Trigger your alarm (if possible) to confirm response and system integrity.
• ☐ Confirm your monitoring subscription is active, signals connect reliably, and backups (battery / power) are in place.

6. Staff Awareness

• ☐ Brief staff on holiday vulnerabilities: cash left unattended, unlocked doors during peak hours, suspicious behaviour.
• ☐ Encourage reporting of anything unusual — better safe than sorry.

7. Plan for the Unexpected

• ☐ Check storage space: how many days are recorded? It’s not much use if you’re closed for 3 weeks & your hard drive only holds 2. Even 4 weeks is tight.
• ☐ If your business will close for a stretch, schedule an extra check mid-break.
• ☐ Leave emergency contact details (security provider, key-holder) visible.
• ☐ Consider temporary extra coverage or camera add-ons during high-risk times (e.g., late Dec / early Jan).

Bonus Tip

• ☐ If you host holiday events, pop-up markets, or increased foot traffic, consider short-term extra camera positioning or portable systems for surge coverage.