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Holiday Safety Tips to Prevent Being a Crime Victim
By Gazette Staff Writers — Thursday, December 5th, 2024
November 27, 2024 SHOPPERS • Shoppers beware in crowded stores and shops for pickpockets that work in teams. In a common method, one suspect distracts the victim while the other suspect intentionally bumps the victim and removes a wallet from a back pants pocket simultaneously. Keep wallets in a bag snug close to your body or in a front pants pocket to avoid this. • When shopping at malls or downtown areas, please observe all parking signs and park in well lighted areas at night. Make sure to lock your vehicle. Do not leave valuables in plain view in your vehicle and they become prime targets for thieves. It only takes a few seconds to smash a car door window to reach in and steal. Place your valuables in a secured trunk or take a break and make trips to drop off some of those gifts at home before continuing to shop. • Beware of package thieves who follow postal and delivery vehicles when they drop off packages on porches that are ordered online. You can set a shipping delivery time or have a message notification when your packages are delivered to reduce from becoming a porch pirate theft victim. Also, inexpensive surveillance cameras can be installed on your doorbell and other exterior areas of the front of your house. • Online scams are growing. You may receive a text message, email, or phone call requesting your personal information to register an account or make a payment that is identified as unusual to a consumer. Do not provide any of your personal/accounts information and ask for verification of the requestor companies contact information and email. • If possible, use a credit card vs a debit card to make holiday purchases. If your card is lost or cared information is compromised, most credit cards provide protection for any fraudulent purchases over $50. With a debit card, if you don’t report the loss right away, you may lose all the contents of the bank account associated with the debit card. • Please be cautious in observance of holiday traffic and allow for extra travel time to reach your destinations. RETAILERS • Retailers look out for those using large amounts of cash for purchases. Make sure to thoroughly inspect large bills to prevent counterfeit fraud. Visit: • Make sure all surveillance video cameras are in operational order and are recording continuously. This is helpful to provide law enforcement in the event of a store burglary or theft at your establishment. Surveillance footage oftentimes leads to the identity of the suspect(s) and provide details so other technology can be used to apprehend offenders. • To deter crime, consider hiring extra loss prevention staff or uniformed security officers during peak shopping hours. TRAVELERS • If you are traveling and will be away from your home, set some indoor lights on timers to show the appearance you are home. Also notify trusted neighbors to be vigilant for suspicious activity on the street while you are away. • Do not post pictures on social media of you and your family/friends at travel destinations while you are out of town. Delay posting travel pictures until after you return home. Posting travel pictures gives the impression you are out of town and burglars will focus on that time to break in to houses. ** FOR ANY CRIMES IN PROGRESS OR TO REPORT SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY, IMME-DIATELY DIAL 911 ** Police Officers will be conducting saturation patrols during the holidays looking for those driving under the influence (DUI) of alcohol/drugs. Please use rideshare or designate a during the holidays. Taking drunk/drugged drivers off the street saves lives and reduces traffic collisions. The men and women of the Police Department encourage our residents and business owners to prepare and be vigilant while enjoying the holiday season. Happy Holidays! Press Release Prepared by: Don Aguilar, Chief of Police |
