During the year end holidays, people
are often busy, excited, and sometimes a little bit careless. The
following crime prevention tips can go a long way towards ensuring a
safe and happy holiday season...
At
Home!
Be extra cautious about locking
doors ands windows when you leave your house or apartment, even for
a few minutes.
Don't display holiday gifts where
they can be seen from a window or doorway. Store gifts before you
go away on a holiday trip.
If you go out for the evening,
turn on lights and a radio or television so the house or apartment
looks occupied.
If you take a holiday trip away
from your home, have some interior lights activated by an automatic
timer. Have a neighbor or family member watch your house, shovel
new snow, pick up the mail and newspaper ands park his or her car in
your driveway from time to time.
Be wary of strangers soliciting for
charitable donations. They may attempt to take advantage of
people's generosity during the holidays. Ask for identification,
how donated funds are used, if contributions are tax deductible,
etc. If you aren't satisfied with the answers, don't give.
Immediately after the holidays,
mark new gifts with an identification number and/or record new
serial numbers.
Test your smoke detectors!
Avoid leaving boxes from purchases
(especially TV's, VCR's, computers, etc.) out at the curb or visible
for trash pickup.
Shopping!
Shop before dark if possible. Try
to coordinate shopping trips with a friend. Never park in an unlit
lot or area, no matter how convenient it is!
Lock your packages and gifts in the
vehicle's trunk. Keep your doors locked and windows closed.
Avoid carrying large amounts of
cash. Pay for purchases with a check, credit card, or debit card
when possible.
To discourage purse-snatchers,
don't overburden yourself with packages. Have purchases delivered
whenever practical.
Be extra careful with purses and
wallets. Carry a purse under your arm. Keep a wallet in an inside
jacket pocket, not a back trouser pocket.
Teach children to go to a store
clerk or security guard and ask for help if you become separated.
They should never go into parking lot alone.
Holiday Party Safety!
Have non-alcoholic beverages
available for party guests.
Serve something to eat before
serving alcoholic beverages. High protein foods stay in the stomach
longer and slow absorption of alcohol into the system.
Have alternative transportation for
intoxicated persons. Don't let guests drink and drive!
Pickpockets!
Pickpockets like to take advantage
of crowds in stores, on the street and on public transportation.
Many work in teams with one distracting the victim while the other
does the actual pick pocketing. Beware of anyone who jostles you.
It may be accidental but, then again, it may not. For women who
carry a purse, one that has a flap which folds over the opening and
fastens at the bottom is preferable to one that opens simply by
turning a clasp at the top. Men who carry wallets or a money clip
should keep them in inner or side pockets rather than rear trouser
pockets.
Courtesy
of the Linden Police Department