Holiday season provides more targets for thieves
With the arrival of the holidays comes an upturn in crime as criminals take advantage of the increased traffic in stores and merchandise that shoppers often leave inside their vehicles.
“We generally see more cases of thefts, shoplifting and car burglaries around the holiday season,” said McMinnville Police Capt. Bryan Denton.
Much of the crime happens in public places such as shopping areas, Denton said, where there are high concentrations of people and it is easy for a thief to disappear into the crowd.
One area of concerns is thefts of items such as purses and wallets. In years past, there have been several reports of purses being taken from shopping carts. The thefts eventually led to identity thefts where the victim’s credit cards and checks were fraudulently used.
“Women who carry purses should keep them on them at all times, preferably around their arm,” Denton said. “All it takes is turning your back for a second and a thief can remove it from a shopping cart and be gone.”
While not as frequent, cases of pick-pocketing wallets have also been reported, leading to similar incidents of identity theft. Police recommend people who carry wallets, when in a crowded shopping area, place their wallets in their front pockets to make it harder for a pickpocket.
Along with customers, Denton said it is important for merchants to remain vigilant as shoplifters use the heavier crowds to mask their crimes. Denton said one thing merchants can do is to educate temporary workers on shoplifting prevention.
Along with being cautious inside shopping areas, police note much of the holiday crime occurs in parking lots where thieves search for easy prey.
“Always lock your car door,” Denton said. “It sounds obvious, but most auto burglaries are committed in cases where car doors were left unlocked. Thieves will usually look for the easiest target and there’s no easier target than an unlocked car.”
Police say the best policy is to keep your purchases with you while shopping, taking them all to your vehicle when you are through shopping. Any valuables or merchandise should be locked in your vehicle’s trunk away from the view of a would-be thief since burglaries are much more likely in cases where the thief can see his target. Shoppers should also be aware of their surroundings and who may be watching them store their merchandise since even locked cars and car trunks can be broken into by a determined thief.
Police also recommend shopping during daylight hours when possible, especially in cases where a lot of merchandise will be purchased. Auto theft rates skyrocket during the evening hours since it is easier for a thief to go undetected under the cover of darkness. Motorists should always try to park in a well-lit area at shopping centers.
Denton said anyone who becomes a victim of such crimes should report the theft immediately. The quicker the report is taken by police, the better chance there is of catching the thief.
Home security is another prime concern for law enforcement officials over the holidays as the Christmas season generally means more residential break-ins.
“Criminals love the holidays as much as everyone else, chiefly because it’s a perfect opportunity to commit a crime,” Denton said, noting temptations of easy profits motivate thieves during Christmas.
One major reason for the upsurge in holiday crime is the fact many people travel. Homes which are left unattended are perfect targets for burglars. For this reason, authorities suggest those traveling make it look like the house is occupied.
Among the suggestions to give this illusions to burglars is to set an automatic timer to turn your lights on and off or even leave an item such as a television on inside the house. People should also ask a trusted neighbor to collect newspapers and mail because accumulations of such items send up a red flag to burglars that a house is unattended.
Police say it is also important to remove temptation from a would-be burglar. One way is to make sure no presents are visible from the windows while you are gone for an extended period. Often a burglar is more likely to break in if they can see their goal easily before them. An observant burglar can be tipped off if there is, for an example, a new color TV inside a residence by seeing the used box in the trash.
Lawmen suggest people not leave messages on their answering machines saying they are not at home, or leave notes on their doors to inform people they will not be back until a specific date.
Police note that having a well-lit exterior can also discourage burglars since they cannot as easily hide in the shadows. It is also a good idea to put away things like tools and ladders which can be used as burglary tools by thieves.