November marks the beginning of the holiday shopping season. Take some time to ensure you have a safe and happy holiday season by being mindful of the following safety tips:
- Be aware of your surroundings. Look for suspicious persons, etc. when you are in any area.
- Remember where you parked your car. While this may sound elementary, many shopping areas are spread out over large areas. Being unable to locate a car can cause you undue confusion and stress that may present you as a better target to a criminal.
- If shopping late in the day or after dark, park in an area that is a populated and well lit area.
- If possible, take a friend or family member shopping with you. There is something to be said for safety in numbers.
- As you return to your car, make sure to keep your car key in your hand.
- Avoid carrying large amounts of cash. Pay for purchases with checks, credit, charge or debit cards. Carry cash and wallets in a front pocket to reduce your chances of having your pocket picked.
- Don't leave packages, cell phones, purses, or any other items of value in your parked car where they can be seen. Always conceal or remove these items to avoid theft.
If you are opting to online shop this year and avoid the lines and crowds, that is always a great idea, but you should also be aware of thieves who are looking to steal your delivered packages and mail. Follow these few safety tips:
- Sign up for delivery alerts so you know when your delivery is scheduled - and when the package has been delivered.
- If you're not able to be home when a package will be delivered, ask a trusted neighbor to hold it for you.
- If possible, require a signature for all deliveries.
- Consider shipping packages to your place of work or use the ship to store option.
- Be a good neighbor! If you see a package on your neighbor's doorstep, reach out and ask if they would like you to hold it until they are home. Better yet, if you stay home or work from home, offer to allow your neighbors to send their packages to your house for safekeeping.
While these steps don't guarantee you will not become the victim of crime, they will hopefully reduce your chances of falling prey to a criminal. We wish all of our residents a very safe and happy holiday shopping season!