Memorial Day weekend marks the traditional kick-off for yet another season of … you guessed it… crime. Oh, you didn’t guess it? Well crime, like many other human pursuits is seasonal, and historically Memorial Day weekend is the opening of the season for crime in the United States.
No one really knows for sure why this is the case. It could be that in the winter, fewer victims venture out. It could be that winter weather conditions make the successful execution of a crime more difficult.
On the other hand, it could be that when it warms up, more victims are available on the streets for longer periods of times — especially at night. It could be that more windows are left open. It could be that more people are on vacation and not paying attention to their security while at play. It could be that those same vacationers left their vacant houses vulnerable to burglars. It could be a lot of things.
Whatever the reason, FBI reports show that the rate of crime bottoms out in January and February. In March it begins to increase and by June the crime rate rises above the national monthly average. It then continues to rise, peaking in August. In September the crime rate begins to slow, then repeats the cycle.
This cycle almost perfectly matches the traveling pattern of U.S. vacationers who, to no one’s surprise, tend to travel most heavily in the summer months. According the U.S. Bureau of Transportation Statistics, over a third of all vacation travel takes place in the quarter of the year that includes the months of July, August, and September. Are the yearly cycles of crime and vacation traveling coincidental? It seems unlikely.
And with over 100 million Americans vacationing in the United States, plus millions more coming from overseas this summer on holiday, this should turn out to be another good season for American criminals.
If you are a typical American vacationer, your risk of becoming a crime victim increases. Starting now.
Have a nice trip.
Terry Riley, based in Santa Cruz, Calif., is a corporate psychologist specializing in the management of travel behavior. Terry is the author of "Travel Can Be Murder" and "The Complete Travel Diet." He also edits , a satirical news report. or . Want to sound off about one of his columns? Try visiting .