Don't worry too much about your car being stolen on a holiday

Here's a study we're not quite sure was worth releasing, but it's informative nonetheless. Its value is in busting the myth that your car is more likely to be stolen if the country is celebrating something. The National Insurance Crime Bureau compiled holiday-specific theft numbers from 2015 National Crime Information Center data, and the results don't prove too much. Before you check out the list of thefts on each holiday, know that the average daily theft total in 2015 was 2,080 cars.

1. Halloween (2,238)
2. New Year's Eve (2,227)
3. Labor Day (2,171)
4. Christmas Eve (2,071)
5. Memorial Day (2,040)
6. New Year's Day (2,029)
7. Independence Day (1,981)
8. President's Day (1,787)
9. Valentine's Day (1,690)
10. Thanksgiving (1,653)
11. Christmas Day (1,620)

So given this data, which again only covers 2015, only three holidays – Halloween, NYE, and Labor Day – saw thefts rise above average. Christmas Day was one of the days with the lowest theft totals all year. Meaning the connection between holidays and stolen car incidence isn't generally statistically significant. And because you're no doubt wondering, the theftiest day of the year is apparently June 15, or at least it was in 2015. We checked – that's National Lobster Day, so do with that what you will.

All of that said, there are some good common-sense tips to remember during the holiday season. Even if your car isn't stolen, it can be a target for a break-in when parked at a shopping mall, especially if there are gifts visible through the windows. And the NICB cautions that it isn't enough to simply place those items in the trunk or under a cargo cover before going into a store, because there might be someone in the parking lot watching you do it. To avoid that, hide the packages and any valuables out of sight before making the next stop. Oh, and lock your doors.

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