As the year draws to a close, South Africans across the country begin packing for their long-awaited holidays — coastal escapes, family reunions, or a quiet break from the year’s pace. But with the festive season comes an unfortunate reality: a consistent rise in break-ins, thefts, and opportunistic crimes targeting empty homes.
According to the South African Police Service (SAPS), burglary at residential premises remains one of the most common crimes in the country, with incidents often spiking between November and February. During these months, neighbourhoods empty out, and criminals know it. Even homes with alarms and cameras become easy targets during loadshedding or when power cuts disable electric fencing.
That’s why now — not December — is the time to act.
By securing a safe deposit box at a trusted facility like Knox Safe Custody, you can safeguard your most valuable possessions and leave for the holidays with genuine peace of mind.
The Festive Season Crime Surge: A Predictable Risk
Recent analysis by BusinessTech and News24 confirms that burglaries, vehicle theft, and armed robberies tend to rise significantly during the summer holiday period.
The 2024 SAPS quarterly crime statistics reveal that burglary at residential premises accounted for over 36,000 incidents in just three months — many occurring while homeowners were away. In some provinces, such as Gauteng and the Western Cape, housebreakings increased by double digits compared to the rest of the year.
Even so, homeowners often underestimate their vulnerability. High walls, alarms, and armed response help, but these systems can’t match the total protection of a secure vault — especially one that remains unaffected by power outages, network failures, or weather conditions.
Even with insurance, replacing stolen items often means waiting months for payouts or discovering that policies only cover a fraction of the loss. The stress, paperwork, and emotional impact far outweigh the modest cost of secure storage.
That’s why thousands of South Africans are turning to safe deposit boxes — for both protection and peace of mind.
A safe deposit box doesn’t just keep your items locked away; it keeps them beyond reach.
👉 Book your Knox Safe Custody box now — before the festive rush begins.
Why a Safe Deposit Box Is the Smartest Holiday Decision You’ll Make
A safe deposit box is one of the most practical decisions you can make before leaving for the holidays. It’s affordable, secure, and removes one of the biggest sources of anxiety while you’re away.
Even with comprehensive home insurance, policies often limit coverage for jewellery, cash, and collectible items. According to Old Mutual, most household insurance policies have sub-limits for valuables stored at home, meaning you could recover only a fraction of your loss.
By contrast, Knox’s vaults are underwritten by Lloyd’s of London, offering true international-standard protection. For a modest annual rental — often less than the cost of one restaurant dinner a month — you eliminate the risk entirely.
Explore our box sizes and pricing.
Knox Safe Custody is housed in the underground bunker of the former US Consulate in Houghton, one of South Africa’s most secure and discreet private vault facilities. Every visit is private, every access is dual-key controlled, and every client interaction is handled with the utmost confidentiality.
Unlike a home safe — which can be discovered, tampered with, or forced open — Knox provides multiple layers of physical and electronic security that operate continuously, unaffected by loadshedding or network outages.
Learn more about Knox’s security and facility.
When you store your valuables in a Knox safe deposit box, you’re not just buying storage — you’re buying peace of mind. You can leave for your December holiday, or any time during the year, knowing your possessions are protected by a facility purpose-built for maximum security and insured at the highest level.
You’ll relax more deeply, sleep better, and travel lighter — because you’ve already handled the one thing most people overlook.
It’s a small, predictable cost that delivers something priceless: the ability to actually switch off and enjoy your holiday knowing everything that matters most is protected.
Timing Matters: Book Before the Rush
Every year, Knox sees a sharp increase in demand between early November and mid-December. Clients scramble to rent boxes as the festive season approaches, but availability becomes limited.
The earlier you act, the better your options — whether you need a small box for jewellery and documents or a larger unit for bullion, collectibles, or other high-value assets.
👉 Reserve your box now to guarantee availability before the year-end surge.
More Than Boxes: Custom Storage for Larger Valuables
Not everything fits in a standard safe deposit box — and Knox understands that.
In addition to personal boxes, we offer customisable storage options for larger or unique assets, including:
All storage options are insured, discreet, and available for short- or long-term use.
Learn more about Knox’s storage solutions.
If You Can’t Come to Knox — We’ll Come to You
For clients unable to visit in person, Knox offers insured collection from your home, office, or bank.
Our professional team arranges secure, tracked transportation of your items directly to the Knox vault, where they are sealed, logged, and stored under full insurance cover.
This service is ideal for clients travelling soon, living outside Gauteng, or needing convenience without compromising security.
What to Store Before Going Away
Before heading out this December, secure the following items in your box:
If you’re unsure about the authenticity or value of your jewellery, Knox also provides professional testing and evaluation services using state-of-the-art technology used by leading refineries.
Learn more about Knox’s jewellery testing and evaluation.
Why Knox Safe Custody Is South Africa’s Trusted Choice
Few facilities offer Knox’s combination of security, heritage, and trust.
In addition to safe deposit boxes, Knox offers:
The Emotional Cost of Loss: Why Prevention Matters More Than Replacement
When people think about theft, they often calculate what their insurance might cover. But the emotional toll of losing irreplaceable items — a wedding ring, an inherited watch, or a signed family document — is rarely accounted for.
According to Business Insider South Africa, many victims of home burglaries describe the experience as “deeply violating.” It’s not just about the stolen goods — it’s about losing the sense of safety that one’s home represents. Psychologists have long recognised that the trauma of burglary can mirror symptoms of post-traumatic stress, with anxiety, insomnia, and hypervigilance lasting long after the event.
In one CrimeStats SA analysis, experts noted that repeat burglaries often occur at the same address within months — targeting those who replaced stolen valuables too soon. For homeowners, that creates a cycle of stress, vulnerability, and financial strain.
But here’s the truth: you can break that cycle before it begins.
Storing your irreplaceable items in a secure facility means you never have to experience that kind of loss.
The small, predictable cost of a Knox box is nothing compared to the emotional and financial recovery that follows a break-in. It’s a proactive act of self-care — protecting not just your assets, but your peace of mind and family stability.
And for families passing on heirlooms or investment assets like bullion, it’s also about preserving legacy — ensuring that your history remains intact for future generations.
That’s what Knox clients value most: peace of mind that endures long after the festive season ends.
A Long-Term Investment in Security and Legacy
While December might be your immediate motivation, most Knox clients choose to maintain their boxes year-round once they experience the convenience and reassurance it provides.
Your box becomes a permanent, central location for valuables — a place where legacy items, investment assets, and legal documents can be stored securely under one roof.
The Bottom Line
Crime rates rise every festive season — it’s an unfortunate, predictable truth.
But that doesn’t mean you have to be part of the statistic.
By securing a safe deposit box at Knox Safe Custody before December, you’re protecting not only your valuables but also your peace of mind. It’s a simple, elegant solution that costs far less than the stress, loss, or trauma of theft.
This festive season, invest in calm, not concern.
Because nothing feels better than knowing that what matters most is exactly where it belongs — safe with Knox.
