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.

Have a Safe and Happy Holiday Season!!

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