The holiday season involves occasions for shopping, meals withfamily and friends, and partying.

For some people, it can also offer an opportunity to steal —gifts, cars, your identity, even Christmas decorations.

According to Nationwide claims data through 2014, there werenearly 15,000 home thefts during the holidays and travel months ofNovember, December and January.

Many of these are crimes of opportunity, and they can beprevented with some simple steps.

Related: Credit card theft tops list of crimes Americansface, Gallup finds

Here are five types of theft home and business owners shouldguard against during the holiday season: 

(Photo: iStock)

1. Home safety

Online shopping has made it a lot easier to find the perfectgift without having to brave the local mall, but it also createseasy opportunities for thieves to steal packages from a front orside porch.

Thieves often follow delivery trucks waiting for an opportunityto strike. Most online retailers send emails and text messages sopurchasers know almost immediately when a package has beendelivered. If no one is home during the day, consider havingpackages delivered to an office address or the home of a trustedfriend or neighbor.

Be aware that would-be thieves may also pose as couriersdelivering packages or try to solicit donations for charitablecauses. Ask for identification and how the funds will be used. Ifthe answer isn't satisfactory, don't contribute. It's a better ideato only donate to well-known organizations that you can check outon Charity Navigator or a similar site.

Christmas trees placed near windows and doors provide would-bethieves with the opportunity to see the gifts that have been placedunder the tree. Once all of the packages are wrapped, considerkeeping them out of sight until closer to the big day.

Putting inside and outside lights on timers can make it looklike someone is home. Always lock doors and windows when leavingthe house. Owners who leave a "hidden" key somewhere around thehouse should consider changing the location or removing italtogether during the holidays.

Fires are also more prevalent around the holidays. Don't leavecandles in a room unattended or near anything flammable, such ascurtains or wrapping paper. Ensure that the Christmas tree hasplenty of water so it doesn't dry out. Use the proper lights forinside and outside, and be careful not to overload extension cordsor electrical outlets.

When cooking, don't leave pots unattended on the stove andmonitor ovens for flare ups. Keep fire extinguishers close by incase of cooking or other fires.

Related: 12 home theft prevention tips for travelinghomeowners 

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2. Vehicle safety

Holiday shoppers are often distracted, more focused on theirlists and juggling packages than paying attention to theirsurroundings. They also may be talking to shopping companions, oron the phone, texting or searching the internet.

It's precisely this kind of scenario that attractscarjackers.

Recently, the U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Command issueda warning about a carjacking scam that targets unsuspectingshoppers.

"What we've heard is criminals will place a $100 bill, usuallyon an individual's windshield under the wiper blade, and while thevictim is distracted and gets out to retrieve the cash, thecriminals use the element of surprise to approach the vehicle androb the victim of their belongings and car," said Special AgentMark Kerr of the Army Criminal Investigation Command.

If you discover money, immediately get into your car, lock yourdoors and drive to a safe location before removing it. You shouldalso notify law enforcement or security personnel in the area.

Smart shoppers approach their cars with their keys in hand, areaware of who is around them, park in well-lit areas, and shop witha friend or other family member. They should also not be distractedby texting or talking on their cellphones so they're not aware ofwho may be around them.

Packages left in cars also attract the attention of would-bethieves, so put them in the trunk or place them out of sight in thevehicle. Purses or other valuables should never be left invehicles.

Related: Top 10 metro areas for auto thefts withkeys

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3. Business safety

Store owners hire a lot of extra help during the holidays, butit's still important to conduct proper screening and backgroundchecks of any prospective employees.

According to the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners's 2016"Reportto the Nations on Occupational Fraud and Abuse,"organizations lose an estimated 5 percent of their total revenuesto fraud each year. The association recommends criminal checks,complete reference checks and even brief ethics checks for allemployees. Companies that don't take proper precautions run therisk of hiring serial fraudsters in the rush to bring on new help.All employees should be trained to watch for fraud or suspiciousactivity from shoppers and other employees.

Shoplifting also increases during the holidays, and moreretailers are installing security devices to combat theft — dooralarms that can be triggered by security tags on clothing and otheritems, tethers for high-value articles and surveillance cameras.Both employees and shoppers should be aware of shoplifters andreport any suspicious behavior.

Related: Is trouble brewing in theworkplace? 

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4. In-store safety

Shoppers need to take extra precautions, starting with beingaware of their surroundings and who is near them at all times.

Don't carry a lot of cash, and be sure to wait until asked toproduce a credit card so a nearby thief can't "shoulder surf" toget account information. Also consider storing credit cards in anradio-frequency identification-blocking wallet or sleeve to protectthieves from cloning any credit cards.

Female shoppers should keep a close eye on their purses andcarry them close to their bodies to make it harder for pursesnatchers. Also, consider the kind of purse you're carrying. Is itopen so a would-be thief can easily reach in and grab your wallet?Is it a backpack style that allows anyone standing behind you toreach in without your knowledge?

Social media has made it easier for everyone to share aspects oftheir lives they wouldn't have dreamed of sharing a few years ago.Don't advertise shopping trips, travel plans, holiday parties orsome of the great "deals" you got while shopping online. Turn offthe geolocation services on cellphones when not using the mappingfeature to make it harder for thieves to track your movementsthrough social media posts or the phone itself.

Related: The changing face of fraud

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5. Online safety

When shopping online, use one credit card for purchases and thentrack the charges either online or on the statement when itarrives.

Make sure to use secure websites and log off when completing anypurchases. Shoppers should look for an "s" in website URLs. Anaddress that begins with "https://" means the information isencrypted, making it harder for identity thieves looking to stealcredit card numbers, passwords or other online identification.

Travelers advises online shoppers to choose aspecific delivery time if the retailer provides the option, andmake sure someone is home to accept delivery. If purchasing from alarger retailer, consider having your package delivered to a localstore for picking up. Take advantage of delivery alerts so you canbe notified when a package arrives at your home. If you're notavailable to accept delivery, ask a trusted neighbor to take yourpackage inside for safekeeping.

When possible, ask the delivery company to hold your package attheir closest pick-up facility until you can retreive it. You alsocan ask the shipper to require a signature confirmation of deliveryin order to prevent packages being left when no one is home to signfor them. It's also helpful to provide delivery instructions sopackages can be left out of sight from your yard or the road.

Avoid using public Wi-Fi when shopping online because unsecuredhotspots can allow hackers to access sensitive information ondevices. Also beware of wondering eyes spying on phone screens andtrying to steal passwords. Video makes it easy for a thief toreplay keystrokes for passwords until finding the right combinationof characters.

The holidays provide a lot of distractions and enterprisingthieves use those opportunities for their gain. Staying alert andtaking some basic precautions can help to keep holiday Grinches atbay.

Related: 4 ways to avoid giving your data to cyber thievesthis holiday season