Safety During the Holiday Season

With Thanksgiving right around the corner and the start of the holiday season officially underway, I thought I'd dedicate this entry to safety. Holidays are great times for family and friends to meet together and share in the spirit of thanksgiving and service. However, for many people, holidays also are a time for crime. It has statistically been shown that holidays bring with it an increase in crime rate. Most police officers will agree that Thanksgiving and Christmas are the worst times for fraud crimes. Criminal activity normally starts to increase the week of Thanksgiving, peaks during mid-December, and dies down the month of January.

Be careful of your surroundings over the holidays. It doesn't take a lot of thought or effort to steal credit card or bank account information now-a-days. Thanks to current technology, it's possible now more than ever to steal someone’s personal information and identity. I have learned this from my boyfriend, Tristen. He works with Capital One in their Fraud Department. 

Take steps to protect yourself this season. Keep your card face down when it is out of your wallet, and put it away once it is scanned. You never know if the person standing behind you in line is thumbing your credit card information into their phone, or taking pictures of it for future use. Also, when visiting ATM's, visit them during the daytime whenever possible...and only in well populated areas, such as inside malls.

Another way to keep your personal information protected is to keep all potential information out of the trash. Shred all personal information before throwing it away. You also never know who will be digging through you trash looking for their next victim.

Many critics feel that the spike in criminal activity will be worse the next few years. The reason is because of the economy. Many people have been laid off or have seen a decrease in work loads, and statistically that means that less and less ethical choices are going to be made. But the truth is, the holidays have ALWAYS shown an increase in criminal activity, such as burglary, robbery and break-ins. 

Protect your home from break-ins as well. An increase in break-ins also happens during the holidays.  Alert your alarm company so they know they need to watch your home more carefully while you are away. 

The holiday season is a time when busy people can become careless and vulnerable to theft and other crimes. The following tips from the Los Angeles Police Department Crime Prevention Section can help you be more careful, prepared and aware during the holiday season.

• Be extra cautious about locking doors and windows when you leave the house, even if it's for just a few minutes.
• When leaving home for an extended time, have a neighbor or family member watch your house and pick up your newspapers and mail. Or better yet, have your mail and newspaper deliveries put on hold until you return.
• Indoor and outdoor lights should be on an automatic timer.
• Leave a radio or television on so the house looks and sounds occupied.
• Large displays of holiday gifts should not be visible through the windows and doors of your home.

The following is a list of holiday shopping tips:

• Shop during daylight hours whenever possible. If you must shop at night, go with a friend or family member.
• Dress casually and comfortably.
• Avoid wearing expensive jewelry.
• Do not carry a purse or wallet, if possible.
• Always carry your driver's license or identification along with necessary cash, checks and/or a credit card you expect to use.
• Even though you are rushed and thinking about a thousand things, stay alert to your surroundings.
• Avoid carrying large amounts of cash.
• Pay for purchases with a check or credit card when possible.
• Keep cash in your front pocket.
• Notify the credit card issuer immediately if your credit card is lost, stolen or misused.
• Keep a record of all of your credit card numbers in a safe place at home.
• Be extra careful if you do carry a wallet or purse. They are the prime targets of criminals in crowded shopping areas, transportation terminals, bus stops, on buses and other rapid transit.
• Avoid overloading yourself with packages. It is important to have clear visibility and freedom of motion to avoid mishaps.
• Beware of strangers approaching you for any reason. At this time of year, con-artists may try various methods of distracting you with the intention of taking your money or belongings.

Basically, the rules are the same year-round. But because we are busier during the holiday season, we sometimes let our guard down. We need to stop doing that!!! Do what you can to protect yourself, your family and your home during this and every holiday season. Have a safe and happy holiday!!