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Holiday Safety Tips
By Ventura County Sheriff Department — Monday, November 18th, 2013
 Ventura County Sheriff's Department The busiest shopping days of the year are upon us. Malls, retailers, and grocery stores will be more crowded than usual with busy shoppers. Whether you are about to celebrate a holiday in the coming weeks or not, keep the following in mind when going out to shop (and the rest of the year, too): 1. Please remember to lock your vehicles. Whether you are at the shopping mall or parked in your own driveway, lock and remove your valuables from your car. 2. Keep careful track of your bags and other packages. If you leave something unattended, it could get stolen or discarded. 3. Tell a security guard or store employee if you see an unattended bag or package. The same applies when taking mass transit: report any unattended packages to security or staff. 4. Be sure not to buy more than you can carry. If your packages are making it hard for you to walk upright or see, ask a store employee to help you carry them to your car. 5. Check receipts to see whether your full credit card number appears. If a receipt has your full number on it, take a pen and thoroughly scratch it out. 6. If at all possible, do not let your credit card out of your sight. You swipe your card or watch the sales person do so. 7. Double check that you have your credit cards and check book after you pay for your items and don’t forget your purse and wallet from the shopping cart or counter. 8. Remember that the bad-guys may be watching you store your packages in your car and then go to another store. That’s when they break into your car and steal what you just placed inside. Be vigilant of your surroundings, paying attention to people and vehicles which may be following from location to location or home. If you go shopping with children over the next several weeks, keep the following advice in mind for everyone’s safety: 1. Ensure that any children with you know your cell phone number. Give cards with contact information to any who don’t. 2. Make a plan with children in case you get separated. Have a central meeting place, and review with your children who they can turn to for help if they find themselves alone. 3. Go over the dangers of strangers with them so that they know who not to talk to or follow. By following this advice, you can reduce the stress of shopping during the particularly busy season. As always, keep your personal safety in mind and be on the lookout for fraud and identity theft. Nature of Incident: Holiday Safety Tips |
