Safety Tips

This holiday season, don’t let the spirit of giving lull you into giving burglars, muggers, and pickpockets a better chance to do their dirty work. Criminals love the holidays as much as everyone else, largely because it’s an opportune time for them to commit crimes.

Homes jam-packed with glittering gifts; stores, malls and downtown streets teeming with unsuspecting shoppers; and people rushing around, stressed out and careless, looking for last-minute gifts, trying to get everything done create the perfect environment for criminals to do their illegal activities. It’s enough to make a criminal giddy with holiday joy.

Here are some tips on how you can make your holiday season safer and more festive:

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IF YOU’RE TRAVELING DURING THE HOLIDAYS:

1. Get an automatic timer for your lights.
2. Ask a neighbor to watch your home, shovel snow (we can always dream about this in the OC), and park in the driveway from time to time.
3. Don’t forget to have your mail and newspaper delivery stopped. If newspapers pile up, it’s a good sign to criminals that you’re gone.

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IF YOU’RE OUT FOR THE EVENING:

1. Turn on lights and a radio or TV so it looks and sounds like someone’s home.
2. Be extra cautious about locking doors and windows when you leave, even if it’s just for a few minutes.
3. Don’t display gifts where they can be seen from outside.

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IF YOU’RE SHOPPING:

1. Stay alert and be aware of what’s going on around you.
Stay alert and be aware of what’s going on around you.
2. Park in a well-lighted space. Be sure to lock your car, close the windows, and discreetly hide shopping bags and gifts in the trunk. Remember, however, that criminals watch shoppers store gifts in their trunks and wait for them to leave so they can break in and steal them.
3. Avoid carrying large amounts of cash with you; pay with a check or credit card whenever possible.
4. Deter pickpockets and purse-snatchers. Don’t overburden yourself with packages. Be extra careful with purses and wallets. Carry your purse close to your body, not dangling by the straps. Put a wallet in an inside coat or front pants pocket.
5. Shopping with kids? Teach them to go to a store clerk or security guard if they get separated from you. Tell your kids adults should not be asking a kid for help, it may be a trick to lure them away.

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IF A STRANGER COMES TO THE DOOR, BEWARE:

Criminals sometimes pose as couriers delivering gifts. It’s not uncommon for people to try to take advantage of others’ generosity during the holidays by going door-to-door for charitable donations when the alleged charity does not even exist. Ask the person for their identification and find out how the funds will be used. If you aren’t satisfied, do not donate. Help a charitable organization you know about instead.

Last, but not least, don’t let holiday stress get the best of your holiday spirit. Make time to get together with family, friends, and neighbors. And think about reaching out in the spirit of the season and helping someone who’s less fortunate and/or lonely.

Do your part to make the holidays a safe and happy time for everybody---except criminals.

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TAKE A HOLIDAY INVENTORY:

The holidays are a good time to update—or create—your home inventory. Take photographs and/or make a home video of all your valuable items. Make a detailed list of each item’s full description including its make, model and serial number. If your home is burglarized, having such a detailed inventory can help identify stolen items making it easier for law enforcement to identify whom they belong to if they are recovered as well as making insurance claims easier to file. Make sure items like TV’s, VCR’s, DVD’s, stereo equipment, cameras, camcorders, sports equipment, jewelry, silverware, computers, home office equipment, power tools, and other high value items are on your inventory list. Remember to check your list twice!!!

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