Thanksgiving marks beginning of crime prevention emphasis
Traditionally, the day after Thanksgiving is the busiest shopping day of the year. The Lee County Sheriff’s Office reminds everyone, we all have a role in preventing crime beginning this month and through 2011. The Sheriff’s Office will focus on high volume foot and vehicle traffic areas, particularly roadways and parking lots in and around shopping centers. By utilizing bicycle, foot, and mounted patrols combined with citizen vigilance and reports of suspicious activity, this year can be one of the safest holiday seasons ever.
As a helpful reminder, here are several Holiday Crime Prevention Tips:
– Shop with family or a friend, there’s safety in numbers.
– If shopping at night, avoid parking in poorly lighted sections.
– Lock your packages and gifts in your vehicle’s trunk.
– Keep your vehicle’s doors locked and windows closed.
– Avoid carrying large amounts of cash. Pay for purchases with a check, credit or debit card when possible.
– Don’t overburden yourself with packages. Have your purchases delivered or make extra trips to and from your vehicle.
– 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 or use a large thick rubber band to prevent pick pocketing.
– Be extremely careful when using ATM machines.
– As you walk to and from your vehicle, be aware of surroundings, make eye contact with others, and if you observe suspicious activity notify security, a store manager or call law enforcement.
After shopping keep crime prevention a priority at home, too.
– 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.
– Be extra cautious about locking doors and windows when you leave your house or apartment, even for a few minutes.
– If you go out for the evening, turn on lights and a radio or television so the house or apartment appears 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, pick up the mail and newspaper and park his or her motor vehicle in your driveway from time to time.
– Be wary of strangers soliciting for charitable donations. Do not open your door to strangers. They may attempt to take advantage of people’s generosity during the holidays.
– Immediately after the holidays, mark new gifts with an identification number and record new serial numbers.
– If you have houseguests, advise them of your security precautions and make sure they follow them.
– Avoid leaving boxes from purchases (especially TV’s, VCR’s, computer, etc.) out on the curb for trash pick-up, at the very least fold them so the product labels don’t show.
For more crime prevention information contact the Public Services Division at 477-1400.